3 of a kind: Castillo sisters flourish on Fortuna High softball team

This season's iteration of the Fortuna High softball team was noteworthy for its accomplishments, surely, including a 21-5 record, a second-place finish in the Big Five Conference, and a No. 2 seed and first-round bye in the North Coast Section Division 3 playoffs. They were set to take on No. 10 Freedom at home in quarterfinal action Friday evening.

But the squad boasted another quirk in that three of its members, all underclassmen and all sisters, played on the same squad, and in one case, in the same infield. As the sophomore and two freshmen mature and continue to gain game experience, there's the prospect of another intriguing notion, four Castillo sisters on the same team and potentially the same infield. The youngest of the sisters will be a freshman when the oldest is a senior.

The sisters, Sophia, Kaylee, and Naiya, all played together in a recent contest a couple of weeks ago. Sophomore Sophia, who usually plays shortstop, was at first base, freshman Kaylee played shortstop, and fellow freshman Naiya played second base. Kaylee and Naiya are not twins, despite being in the same grade.

According to Fortuna assistant coach Dennis Rosser, the three started from an early age, first in Fortuna and then Eureka youth ball before making the transition and moving back to Fortuna.

Rosser said, "Naiya also played soccer and basketball through eighth grade. She gave that up because, according to her, ‘I couldn't shoot.' Like all the sisters, she is extremely versatile on the field. After junior Sephora Machado went down needing surgery on her arm, Naiya stepped into the starting left fielder role. She had also played second base and right field, and she is a backup catcher."

Kaylee, also a freshman, is the third pitcher on this year's team, with the potential to see a lot more time in the circle next year with the graduation of Husky hurler Isabel Sanchez. She plays shortstop and second base, and right field on occasion. Kaylee played freshman basketball this year, but doesn't think she will continue in that sport, saying, "I don't like to run."

Sophia, a sophomore, is the starting shortstop, but she also plays second base and centerfield. She recently stepped in at first base when an injury took senior Hailee Thompson to the bench for a week. According to Rosser, Sophia emphasized that this year has been the best year of her softball career.

"I love playing with my sisters," she said. "When we're all on the field at the same time, we just instinctively know what each other is going to do in a given situation. Even with the conflicts we occasionally have, I wouldn't change this for the world."

"Lucky for me, Sophia transferred here last year when they moved down to Fortuna," said Husky head coach Eric Helms. "So she was able to basically assimilate herself pretty fast and joined a group of softball players that were very dedicated last year as well. And she took on the role of our second baseman her whole freshman year for us."

This year, Sophia transitioned to shortstop, with a senior graduating from the position, and had her two sisters join the program. Kaylee filled Sophia's role at second base and "solidified herself as our starting second baseman," said Helms, when she wasn't pitching a few innings along the way.

Naiya has been a utility player, and they've "plugged and played" with her in the outfield and at second base, and only hasn't caught because Husky Evalynn Little has been contributing at an MVP-level, though Naiya is the backup catcher.

Helms noted the game when Thompson suffered a concussion, and Sophia was at first, Naiya at second, and Kaylee at shortstop.

"They're a pleasure to coach, very coachable," he said. "I look forward to having them multiple years… I think that you see the ins and outs. I have three daughters, and there are squabbles here and there, but for the most part, they have each other's backs and love each other. At school, you'll see them walking together as friends and family, so that's neat to see."

"They're all three academically strong in the classroom," he continued. "They all have different passions within the academic world, and Kaylee, with the absence of Isabel next year, we'll need her to work hard in the offseason, step up and be ready to go to take on that role of a strong pitcher for us next year."

As far as standout attributes for one of the three or them collectively, Helms said, "They just work hard, they're fun to be around, they'll joke, they'll laugh. It's just a good group that grew up in a big family (seven in the household as kids)."

According to Rosser, Kaylee and her sisters love that they can go to school functions together. "We're always together," she said. They have different academic interests, though. Sophia really enjoys the science world, saying, "I love sciences, chemistry and biology. I really enjoy those types of classes." Kaylee relishes her PE classes with her friends, and ag class is fun for her. Naiya likes her math classes, especially algebra.

Rosser noted the collaboration the Huskies could eventually have if the youngest makes the varsity as a freshman, saying, "We could see a pitcher-catcher combo of Kaylee and Naiya and two more Castillos in the infield. It's an intriguing speculation."

The youngest currently plays seventh-grade ball in rec leagues with Coach Helms' daughter.

"Depending on where she is athletically and physically at that point, and whether or not she'll crack the varsity lineup as a freshman, it'll be very interesting to see the future," said Helms.

Ken McCanless can be reached at 707-441-0526.

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 2:11 PM.