Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Libby Johnston is one of eight returning starters on this year’s Fortuna team.

By Ray Hamill — With eight starters back from last year’s team, the Fortuna Huskies could present the biggest challenge to defending Big 5 softball champion Eureka this spring.

The Fortuna girls got the new season off to a winning start in cold conditions on Friday afternoon, topping Hoopa 2-0.

While Hoopa pitcher Tatianna Colegrove held the Fortuna bats to just two hits on the day, the Huskies defense and pitching impressed enough to get the better of the defending North Coast Section Division-5 champs.

“I was very pleased with how we played,” Fortuna head coach Eric Helms said. “We played really solid defense.”

Early in the season, Helms and his staff are still trying to figure out some positions, although the team’s three seniors are all going to play a key role, including pitcher Libby Johnston.

Johnston held the Hoopa bats to just four hits in the season opener and struck out eight, while also scoring the game-winning run after getting on base with a single and then then reaching home plate on a Hoopa error.

Two other seniors also got the new season off to an impressive start, with Kylee Fennell and Zoe Dewberry combining for the team’s second run.

Fennell was hit by a pitch to reach base, stole her way to second and then scored on a Dewberry double.

“Those are definitely our three leaders on this year’s squad,” Helms said of the senior class. 

Juniors Mariah Smith and Kadence Mace are both also back from last year’s team, along with three talented sophomores, Mariah Bravo, Faith Helms and Myra Hayes, giving the Huskies plenty of varsity experience in their lineup despite their relative youth.

Freshman right fielder Isabel Sanchez rounds out the starting lineup.

“It’s a smaller squad, but it’s a squad we really enjoy working with day in and day out,” Helms said. “The coaches are really happy with this team.”

Junior Ashley Jinks and freshmen Hailee Thompson, Taylor Heussler and Olivia Hayes round out this year’s roster and will all be relied on to provide some much-needed depth.

Helms also expects the Big 5 to be competitive when league play gets under way in early April.

“I think it’s kind of a wide-open league this year,” he said. “Every team’s going to be competitive with each other.”