NCS playoffs | Eureka, Del Norte softball squads end runs, finish seasons

After a first-round bye in the North Coast Section Division 5 playoffs, top-seed Eureka bested No. 8 San Domenico 13-1 in the quarterfinals. They ran into a buzzsaw, however, in a game against No. 5 Moreau Catholic team Tuesday, losing 10-4 in the semifinals to end their journey as the last Humboldt-Del Norte League softball team standing.

The Loggers finished their season at 13-13 (6-6 Big Five Conference) and had a Charlie Lakin Tournament title to their credit as well.

Moreau scored two in the first inning, three in the second, and two in the fourth and fifth innings en route to the victory. They had 12 hits to the Loggers' eight and both teams committed two errors. For Eureka, Tiffany Harris went 2-for-4 with a double, Megan Secor had a double and base on balls, Jaycee Childress had a hit and a run, Kylee Secor also had a knock and a run scored, Ella Moxon had a a hit, a run batted in, and a run scored, Bailey Brown had a triple and an RBI, and Violla Kingsang had a hit and RBI.

Mackenzie Wolff went the full seven innings and gave up nine earned runs with 11 hits, four strikeouts, two walks, and three hit-by-pitches. Eureka plated three of its four runs in the fourth inning, and on the year, Brown led the team with a .422 batting average and a .481 on-base percentage, followed by Macy and Megan Secor in the on-base percentage department.

Logger head coach Bob Secor was unavailable for comment by press deadline.

Meanwhile, No. 4 seed Del Norte's softball team won their opener in the Division 4 bracket against No. 13 Ukiah by the final of 8-0. Addi Whitford was a standout in the circle, giving up just three hits and striking out seven in working her shutout. Warrior head coach Aaron Healy speculated that the team left at least 15 runners on base over and above their eight scored.

"We got the job done, but it could've been better, realistically."

"Defensively, we played awesome," he said. "I have a very good outfield, and the infield performed well, too. It was a dang good game, solid, right where I wanted them to be in playoffs … they just put the bat on the ball," he said of his squad's five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Del Norte made use of a couple of errors and ran the bases well to put it out of reach. Healy would've liked to plate 10 and end it in the fifth, but was satisfied with the effort.

Giana Antonetti was 3-for-3, Whitford had a homer and three hits, "my two studs offensively for sure," said Healy. Deja Travis had three hits playing at second base as well.

In its quarterfinal against No. 12 seed Analy, though, the visiting squad scored four in the pivotal fourth to best the Warriors, 5-1 last Friday. "We had to make 21 defensive outs, there were no strikeouts in that game," said Healy. "There were a lot of grounders and only a couple of balls hit hard into the outfield." There were a few flares, and Del Norte was victimized in the fourth by a couple of errors and a hit-by-pitch. "We weren't our best, which we would've had to do to continue," said Healy. "Our pitching wasn't great, our hitting wasn't great, but our defense was pretty good but had that one inning get away from us."

The Warriors did leave the bases loaded in the fifth with no outs, and couldn't plate any runs.

Bella Arriola, Travis, and Bliss Blackburn are graduating seniors, Arriola and Blackburn strong outfielders for the past three years. "This was Deja's first time playing in the field really," said Healy. "And we're going to miss her as well. We have to rebuild an outfield, but my young shortstop is right where I want her to be if not ahead of where I thought she would be a freshman defensively (Josi Antonetti)." Sister Gianna will likely move from left to center field next year.

"We have some things to do moving kids around, and we've got some freshmen coming in and I still have my pitcher," said Healy. "We'll have possibly three pitchers next year, but Addi will be my ace." Catcher Natasha DeNicholas returns, and "we have some things to work with. Just got to get the puzzle put together, but I'm looking forward to next year."

Ken McCanless can be reached at 707-441-0526.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 8:19 PM.