Anderson strikes back to bring Esperanza win over Marina

Chelsey Anderson shook off the quick strike and began delivering her own.

After allowing a leadoff home run Thursday afternoon, Esperanza's junior pitcher responded with nine strikeouts and the No. 8 Aztecs came back to defeat Marina, 4-1, in a Sunset League softball game at Esperanza High.

“She's a tough competitor,” Aztecs coach Ed Tunstall said. “I wasn't worried about her at all.”

Esperanza (7-1 in league) remained in first place with two key games next week standing between the Aztecs and a league title. The Aztecs play host to Edison on Tuesday, then visit Los Alamitos on Wednesday.

The Chargers handed Esperanza its only league loss, while the Aztecs rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat the Griffins, 8-7, in their last meeting.

“We're all ready to go,” said Ashley MacQueen, whose triple in the second started the Aztecs' winning rally. “We're ready to play.”

The playoff hopes of the Vikings (3-5) appear slim after Thursday's loss.

“Only if they take an at-large team,” Viking coach Shelly Luth said. “We're a good team. We came ready to play. It's a tough league.”

Shannon Simmons sent an 0-2 pitch over the left-field fence in the first to give Marina a 1-0 lead. Anderson came back to strike out the side did it again in the second.

Freshman Kelsea Roth drew a walk to open the second. MacQueen then tripled to score Roth and tie it at 1-1. Christina Hunter followed with a slow roller to second. She reached on an error as MacQueen scored to make it 2-1.

Hunter eventually came home on Chelsie Schaal's single and Esperanza led, 3-1.

(Click here for more game stats)

CHRIS TOBOLSKI/OCVarsity.com

In the South Coast League:

San Clemente 3, Capistrano Valley 1: Senior Ryan Crowe picked up the victory as the Tritons defeated the Cougars for the second time this season. San Clemente clinched its first CIF berth since 2002.

Tesoro 3, Aliso Niguel 2: Kristen Omari had two hits and two RBIs, including the winning single in the top of the seventh inning, to lead the Titans past the host Wolverines.

In the Century League

No. 3 Canyon 10, Tustin 0 (5 innings): Cheyanne Tarango struck out 12 in five innings for her 21st victory and also doubled as the Comanches (21-6, 7-1) routed the visiting Tillers (0-21, 0-8).

Kayla Blanco went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and Taylor Ousley went 2 for 3 with an RBI.

In the Garden Grove League:

Garden Grove 19, Santiago 2: Brianna Williams went 3 for 3 with a home run and six RBIs, and Celina Sanchez went 5 for 5 with two doubles as the Argonauts (16-11, 7-1) trounced the host Cavaliers.

Garden Grove pounded out 25 hits, while Caitlin Bradac and Amanda Lang held Santiago to just two runs, none earned, on three hits.

In the Sunset League:

Esperanza 4, Marina 1: Chelsey Anderson pitched six scoreless innings and struck out 9 after giving up a lead off home run to Shannon Simmons as the Aztecs beat the visiting Vikings.

Jackie Munoz went 2 for 3 with a double and Ashley Macqueen added two hits, including a triple, and had an RBI.

In the Empire League:

Valencia 8, Cypress 1: Brittany Walton struck out four and scattered three hits to earn her eighth victory of the season, and Amanda Lievanos went 2 for 4 with three RBIs as the Tigers (14-12, 4-4) beat the host Centurions.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Laguna Hills 13, University 0: Christine Gomez went 4 for 4 with a home run, a triple, and six RBIs, and picked up her 10th victory of the season to lift the Hawks (19-5-1, 6-0) past the host Trojans.

Lauren Lastrapes added three hits, including a home run and three RBIs.

In the Academy League:

Brethren Christian 12, St. Margaret's 0 (5 innings): Heather Williams threw five innings of no-hit ball to lead the host Warriors (7-6-1, 4-4) over the Tartars.

Tori Calhoon tripled and knocked in three runs and Williams, Rebecca Shafer and Chelsey Wyman each had two RBIs.

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Contact the writer: preps@ocvarsity.com