ANAHEIM – Canyon’s softball team finally showed Thursday its full capabilities against a top-tier opponent.
That was Coach Dan Hay’s belief after his No. 9 Comanches stayed in contention in the Century League by defeating No. 2 and host Esperanza, 4-0, behind a dazzling performance by pitcher Hailey Hilburn.
The junior fired a three-hitter and struck out 12 while catcher Jezz Portillo homered against Esperanza ace Hayley Copeland.
“This was the first game this season we (came) out and displayed a top level of softball – defense, offense but especially in the circle,” Hay said. “Our team has been underachieving against the top-level teams all season long.”
Hilburn (14-6) helped end that trend and kept the Comanches (14-6, 5-2) tied with El Modena (15-8, 5-2) for second place behind first-place Esperanza (18-4, 6-1).
She struck out seven consecutive batters during one stretch and capped her effort by retiring the final five batters after issuing her only walk to open the sixth.
“Her changeups were phenomenal,” Portillo said.
Canyon made Copeland work hard from the start. Leadoff batter Brianna Betschel capped an eight-pitch at-bat with an infield single. Rachel Dehart followed by reaching on an error. Paulina Anasis then sent a drive to left that bounced off the outfielder’s glove and gave the Comanches a 2-0 lead.
Portillo led off the second with a towering drive over the fence in center for her first homer.
“Finally,” she said. “I can’t ask for anything else but to hit it hard off of Copeland.”
In the fifth, Taylor Swearingen smacked a two-out double off the fence in left to score Betschel (2 for 4), who reached on another infield single.
Why did Canyon seem to put everything together Thursday? Portillo said the Comanches were upset about an 11-5 loss against El Modena on Tuesday while Day pointed to a challenging practice Wednesday.
“We gathered ourselves up at practice and we came out ready to win,” Hilburn said.
Copeland struck out nine, but the Aztecs defense was shaky at times.
“We were tough on ourselves,” Esperanza coach Ed Tunstall said. “(But Hilburn) is a very good pitcher. Our kids weren’t aggressive enough against her.”
Brynley Steele went 2 for 2 with a double for the Aztecs.
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
