Las Plumas Thunderbirds fly to first ever NorCal Championship

BUTTE VALLEY - The Las Plumas softball team has been powerful and seemingly unstoppable all season long, and in the final game of the Thunderbirds' season they went out with a win in the CIF NorCal Division III regional championship.

The T-Birds leaned on sophomore pitcher Kyler Storey en route to a 4-1 victory against Chico High on Saturday afternoon at Butte College.

"This team, what they've done, I'm going to forever remember 31-1-1 (record)," said Las Plumas coach Toby Thompson. "The words that come to mind are grit, determination and one of my favorite words is intestinal fortitude. They don't quit, and even against a great pitcher in McKena (Harvey) they fought and they fought and they fought. Every pitch, foul balls, taking pitches, I can't say enough."

Storey, who threw 139 2/3 innings with a 24-1 record and a 1.65 earned run average across 28 appearances, may have saved her best start for her last one. In seven innings she allowed six hits, one unearned run, walked two and struck out two against a Chico lineup which averaged more than 7 runs per game.

"I think she threw harder than she did the previous two games (in NorCal playoffs)," Thompson said. "You ride the horse, and she's our horse."

LP got the scoring started early when Kendal Headley walked, stole second base, and scored on an RBI single to left field by freshman Jayse Long.

"I feel like us scoring in the first or second inning was top tier," said centerfielder and senior Lexi Hobbs. "It really gave us the motivation to keep going. I feel like if we hadn't scored then we might have never scored."

Storey allowed two hits in the first two innings, but stranded both runners.

On the other side, after the first inning Chico pitcher McKena Harvey retired seven straight after the hit by Long before the Thunderbirds rallied for two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Headley and Long had back-to-back singles to lead off the inning and then advanced on a wild pitch. Both runners scored when Adriana Heredia reached on an error.

LP took advantage of sloppy defense by the Panthers in the bottom of the fifth as well. Adalyna Medrano reached on an error, Medrano stole second base, advanced to third base on a fielder's choice, and scored on a single to left field by Brooklyn Atteberry to give the Thunderbirds a 4-0 lead.

It wasn't just Storey that carried the Thunderbirds to victory. A special class of five seniors helped lead a young LP team to victory. Hobbs, Heredia, Medrano, first baseman Riley McInturf, and outfielder Aubrey Gori were all integral parts.

The Thunderbirds have created a bond at practices, and they are a "loud crew who likes to have fun", Hobbs said.

Players said they what they would remember was their strive and dedication to win, along with feeling like family.

From there it extends to the coaching staff, which some like Hobbs' dad Buddy Hobbs have been helping coach many of the Thunderbirds since their youth.

"The coaches have shaped me into who I am today," McInturf said. "I wouldn't have the love for this game or this team if it wasn't for them, especially Buddy. He's always picking me up no matter what and making sure I'm OK. If I'm the slightest bit off he notices. They've been there for us this entire time."

Thompson ended by saying he is excited for the future of the Thunderbirds' program. LP has just five seniors graduating on its 14 player roster.

"We're bringing back a lot next year so this team is going to be just as good if not better and I can guarantee you that," Thompson said.

Murphy said each year both players and coaches learn, and this year everyone learned the importance of family.

"We put family on the back of our practice jerseys and it's not just a word. This is the first year that it really sunk into this group, and that's why you see the tears," Murphy said. "The biggest thing is the underclassmen learned from the seniors that the biggest thing is being together. When we separate, that's when we start going downhill. We said this is the standard we expect going forward."

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published June 7, 2026 at 2:05 PM.