Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Fortuna head coach Eric Helms posted his 200th career win with the program on Wednesday.

By Ray Hamill — Wednesday was a good day for Fortuna High softball.

Not only did the Huskies keep their Big 5 championship hopes alive, but they also celebrated their seniors and got a milestone victory for their longtime head coach.

The Fortuna girls broke open a tight game with eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on the way to an 11-4 victory over Eureka, and in doing so they gave head coach Eric Helms his 200th career victory with the program.

Helms has been in charge of the team for the past 14 seasons and has enjoyed plenty of success during that time while also developing the talents of several standout players, including local legend Hailey Dolcini, who would become the first H-DNL player ever to play in a Division-1 College World Series.

After the milestone win, Helms paid tribute to the several assistant coaches he has worked with during his career at Fortuna, including Dennis Rosser, who has been at his side for all 14 seasons, as well as current assistants Abe Lucero, Ron Lewis and Kayla Cahill, and former assistants Blaine Sigler and Bobby Dolcini.

And in particular he paid tribute to the support of his wife, Kelly Helms, who is also a prominent local softball coach.

Eric Helms led the Huskies to four straight Big 5 championships from 2014 to 2017, including two unbeaten campaigns during that run.

In those four years, the Huskies were 45-3 in conference play.

In addition to Hailey Dolcini, the longtime head coach also has helped develop several other Fortuna standouts during his time with the program, including Courtney and Jenna Christiansen, Juliana Ortega-Miranda, Renee Metz, Taylor Murray, Kelsie Hall, Kylee Fennell, Libby Johnston and Karley Murray.

Wednesday’s win also keeps the Huskies in contention for a first conference title since 2017, although they will need some help if they are to achieve it.

Going into their final two conference games at Eureka on Friday, the Huskies are 7-3 in the Big 5 and trail Del Norte by one win.

The Warriors can clinch the conference pennant outright with a sweep against Arcata in Crescent City on Saturday, or at least a share of the title with a split.

File photo – Fortuna senior Kadence Mace

The Huskies also honored their two seniors — Kadence Mace and Ashley Jenks — before Wednesday’s game.

“Both of them have stepped up as leaders this year and have led by example at practice,” Eric Helms said of the seniors. “They have done everything that was asked of them.”

Mace in particular has played a key role for the team this spring and is batting over .400 with two home runs.

She also has helped set the tone on a good Fortuna defense all year at second base.

Jenks also has made a big contribution to the team and is another reason the Huskies are conference contenders again this spring.

“Ashley has had clutch hits when she’s given the opportunity,” the coach said. “Throughout the course of her time here, she improved drastically.”

File photo – Fortuna senior Ashley Jenks

With just two seniors, the Huskies have arguably overachieved this season, with the younger players stepping up quicker than anticipated.

“I feel as if we’re one year ahead of schedule, with only having two seniors,” Eric Helms said. “I knew we’d be good but I didn’t know we’d be in as good a position as we are right now.”

The good news for the Huskies is that their head coach has no plans on retiring any time soon after his milestone achievement.

“It’s looking like I’ll be here for a few more years at least,” he said.

The Huskies will try to give their head coach his 201st and 202nd win when they travel to play Eureka at Washington Elementary School on Friday in a doubleheader that has been brought forward from Saturday because of the expected weekend rain.

Game one begins at 1 p.m.