Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – Action from Tuesday’s game at Eureka
By Ray Hamill — With a balanced lineup and no noticeable weaknesses in their game, the Fortuna girls appear ready to challenge two-time defending conference champion Del Norte for this year’s Big 5 championship in softball.
The Huskies have not won a league title since 2017, when the legendary Hailey Dolcini was still dominating the rest of the Big 5, but after pushing the Warriors all the way to the final day a year ago an experienced lineup could be ready to end that championship drought this spring
On Tuesday, the Huskies cruised to a 21-1 win at Eureka to go to 7-1 on the season, as they continue to build momentum ahead of their conference openers next week.
And they should only continue to get better, with the return from injury of junior standout Isabel Sanchez giving them three strong pitching options and the addition of transfer student Addie Collenberg, who will be eligible to play as soon as conference play begins.
That depth in the circle, coupled with the impressive bats and a reliable defense, means the Huskies will go into league play with plenty of confidence and momentum.
“I feel like our bats are doing really well right now,” said head coach Eric Helms, whose team has scored double digits in runs in all seven wins. “And our pitchers have done well, giving us a chance to win every game.”
Helms also has a near-perfect blend of experience and young talent, with a trio of four-year varsity seniors leading the way, alongside three talented juniors and an impressive group of sophomores and freshmen, all of whom are contributing.
Seniors and team captains Mariah Bravo, Myra Hayes and Faith Helms have all been impressing this season and all three are playing the best softball of their careers right now.
Bravo and Hayes have given the team a strong one-two punch in the circle and have carried the load early in the season, and with Sanchez returning from injury in Tuesday’s win no other team in the H-DNL can match Fortuna’s pitching depth.
Faith Helms also has played e key role anchoring the team defense behind the plate and is one of the top catchers in the H-DNL.
Bravo also has been a force at the plate, batting .500 with two home runs, a triple, four doubles and a team-best 18 RBIs, while Hayes has been the most dominating of the team’s pitchers.
Hayes is 5-0 in the circle with a save and leads the team in ERA (1.46) and strikeouts (28), while also batting an impressive .308.
In addition to her strong defensive presence, Faith Helms also has been a force at the plate and is batting .500 with a team-high five doubles and 12 RBIs, which is second only to Bravo on the team.
But it’s the leadership the seniors have shown that has impressed the coaches the most.
“I’m really pleased with our leadership right now,” Eric Helms said. “We have a very experienced team and we’re really pleased with how they’re performing so far. Our seniors are really stepping up.”
The three seniors are three-year varsity starters, while a trio of juniors — Sanchez, Olivia Hayes and Hailee Thompson — are all in their third year playing varsity ball.
Sanchez has been one of the league’s top pitchers for the past two seasons and should be a dominant force in the circle in conference play again this year, while Thompson has been one of the team’s most impressive bats and is averaging a team-high .588 with nine RBIs and a co-team-best nine walks.
The versatile Collenberg, who impressed for Ferndale in 2024 before transferring to Fortuna, is one of four sophomores who give the roster some impressive depth, along with Evalynn Little, Sephora Macahdo and Jaylynn Jacobs, while freshmen Bryce Sanderson and Sophia Castillo have quickly established themselves as varsity players.
Little has been one of the Huskies’ most consistent bats and is averaging ..440 with 10 RBIs, which is third best on the team, while Castillo is batting .380 and has shown a good eye at the plate with five walks, which is best among the younger players.
And that gives the coaches a deep lineup with plenty of options.
“We have 12 solid girls right now that are competing every day against each other,” Eric Helms said. “We are pleased with what we’ve seen from all of the girls so far.”
The 11 available players have all seen significant game time through the opening eight games and have impressed enough that the coaches are still figuring out the best combination.
Perhaps most impressive is how the players are coming together.
“I just like how they’re bonding with each other,” the head coach said.
An unusual conference schedule will see the Huskies open with six straight home games, before having to travel for six straight road games.
Regardless, the race for the championship should be a competitive one.
The Del Norte Warriors feature a senior-heavy and experienced lineup, with many of their players seeking a third straight title, while the McKinleyville Panthers should also be in the mix and coach Shanna McCracken always has her players playing their best ball by the time the Big 5 rolls around.
“Del Norte should be tough. They’re returning a lot of seniors too,” Eric Helms said. “And Shanna always does well with her team up there.
“Anything can happen, but I feel if we keep going at the rate we’re going we can compete (for the big 5).”
