The Hive Sports

by James Tate

2025 Record: Overall (8-16) Region (4-10)

Head Coach: Curtis Brown – 1st year

The Northridge Knights enter the 2026 season with a fresh voice, a young roster, and a growing sense that the program is ready to turn a corner. First‑year Head Coach Curtis Brown steps into the role with a team that finished 8–16 overall and 4–10 in Region 5 last spring, but one that returns a great lineup with promising rising stars. With only three seniors on the roster, the Knights are not the most experienced group in the region, yet they bring back enough production, continuity, and competitive fire to believe a breakthrough is within reach.

Coach Brown inherits a roster that has already weathered the challenges of a demanding region. The Knights have a team with familiarity and cohesion. For a young group, that stability matters. Coach Brown’s task now is to harness that returning experience, elevate the team’s consistency, and help a promising core take the next step.

Kaylee Shirreffs

Shirreffs sets the standard

At the center of that push is senior Kaylee Shirreffs, one of the most dangerous hitters in the state and the unquestioned anchor of Northridge’s offense. Shirreffs is coming off a spectacular junior season in which she earned 2025 Deseret News All‑State Honorable Mention honors after batting .588 with 40 hits and 33 runs batted in. Her performance in last spring’s state tournament was unforgettable; against Hunter, she went 10-for-13 with three home runs and 12 RBI across the three‑game series, nearly willing the Knights to the next round.

Though Northridge ultimately fell two games to one, her postseason surge set the tone for the expectations she carries into her senior year. She returns not only as a power bat but as a seasoned leader who has seen the program evolve and believes this group is ready to take a significant step forward.

Experience and newcomers

Shirreffs is far from alone in the lineup. Northridge brings back three of its top four hitters in total hits, giving the Knights one of the most talented offensive cores in Region 5. Senior Berklee Larsen returns after finishing second on the team with a .432 average and 35 hits, providing steady production and a reliable presence in the heart of the order. She closed the season on a tear, batting .500 (13-for-26) as the Knights went 3–3 down the stretch, including the playoffs, and her late-season surge gives Northridge another proven bat capable of changing games.

Senior Madisyn Lecour adds another steady bat after hitting .342 with 25 hits, giving Northridge a trio of seniors capable of anchoring the offense.

But the Knights’ ceiling will be defined by the growth of their underclassmen.

Juniors Alexa Loftus, Sophia Ormond, and Jordyn Anderson are expected to take on expanded roles this season, each bringing athleticism, versatility, and the kind of competitive edge that Coach Brown believes will elevate the lineup’s depth. Their development will be essential as Northridge looks to generate more consistent production throughout the order.

The sophomore class may be the most important piece of the Knights’ long‑term trajectory. Gracie Butte, Madalyn Key, Novalei Perlick, Brooklyn Hale, Maria Jimenez, and Kiersten Carbone all return with experience and the opportunity to make significant jumps in year two.

Their growth, both offensively and defensively, could determine how high Northridge climbs in the region standings. With so many young players poised for larger roles, the Knights have a foundation that extends well beyond 2026.

Gracie Butte

Pitching return experience and versatility

In the circle, Northridge will lean on Butte, who emerged last season as one of Region 5’s most composed young pitchers. As a freshman, she showed poise, competitiveness, and the ability to handle pressure situations, traits that Coach Brown believes will make her a cornerstone of the program moving forward. Her continued development will be one of the season’s defining storylines.

Shirreffs also remains an option in the circle, giving the Knights a veteran presence when needed and adding flexibility to how Coach Brown manages matchups. With a young staff, the combination of Butte’s growth and Shirreffs’ experience provides a solid foundation as Northridge works to build depth behind them.

A team built for growth

The Knights may not have the senior‑heavy roster. Still, they do have continuity, returning production, and a core that has already endured the challenges of a demanding league. With Coach Brown’s leadership, three seniors setting the tone, and a wave of underclassmen ready to take on bigger roles, Northridge enters 2026 with a blend of hunger and belief that makes them one of the region’s most intriguing teams.

The path upward won’t be easy, but the Knights have the pieces to compete in every game. They have a star capable of carrying an offense, veterans who know how to produce in big moments, and young talent ready to grow into the next wave of leaders. Most importantly, they have a group determined to prove that last year’s struggles were a step toward something better.

Under Coach Brown, Northridge has a new direction and a roster ready to chase the breakthrough it has been building toward.

photos courtesy of James Tate