Canyon, Esperanza make it to semifinals (video)

Six different states are represented in the 24-team field at the Nike Faster to First Classic, but the prestigous national softball tournament turned into a battle for California supremacy on Friday at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex.

All four quarterfinal matchups featured Southern California teams going up against Northern California teams. The Southern California teams went 3-1 with Canyon, Esperanza and Camarillo advancing to the semifinals.

The lone Northern California team left happens to be Sheldon of Sacramento, ranked No. 1 in the nation by ESPN RISE.

Here are some of the highlights from the games:

Canyon 4, Rodriguez (Fairfield) 0: Sophomore Cheyanne Tarango pitched a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts and she had an RBI double and Tayler Van Acker went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI as the Comanches (8-4) knocked off the Mustangs in a championship quarterfinal.

The Comanches will take on Esperanza in the semifinals on Saturday at 1 p.m. Canyon beat Esperanza, 9-1, in the season opener on March 6. The championship game will be played on Saturday at 6:15 p.m.

Esperanza 4, Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove) 1: The Aztecs scored three runs in the top of the seventh and Alexis Borden scattered four hits to record the complete game victory as Esperanza (7-5-1) advanced to the semifinals by beating UCLA-bound pitcher Ally Carda and the Eagles (12-2).

Sheldon (Sacramento) 4, El Modena 0: Cal-bound Jolene Henderson pitched a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts as the top-ranked Huskies (8-0) took care of the Vanguards (7-4) in their quarterfinal.

DeJanee Moore went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and Cal-bound Lindsey Ziegenhirt went 2 for 3 with an RBI to lead Sheldon's offense.

The Huskies move on to the semifinals to face Camarillo on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Camarillo 1, Freedom (Oakley) 0: Jennifer Manuel recorded her second consecutive shutout and she drove in the lone run in the first as the Scorpions (5-5) upset the No. 33 Falcons (5-2) in a championship quarterfinal.

Fresno State-bound Hannah Williams allowed two hits and struck out 10 to take the loss for Freedom.

Hart (Newhall) 3, El Toro 2: Emily Henry delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the No. 5 Indians (11-1) over the Chargers (5-7) in a consolation game.

Pacifica 1, West Orange (Wintgergarden, Fla.) 0: Cheyenne Mascarenas' RBI single in the bottom of the eighth gave the Mariners (4-5) a consolation victory over the Warriors (12-3).

Krystian Dewitt pitched a four-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts to record the victory for Pacifica.

Norco 1, Ayala (Chino Hills) 0: Stanford-bound Teagan Gerhart pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts and she drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the No. 4 Cougars (8-2) beat the No. 38 Bulldogs (8-3) in extra innings in a consolation game.

Valencia (Valencia) 4, Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.) 1: Brigette DelPonte went 3 for 4 with a double and a home run for for the No. 24 Mustangs (12-3-1), but it wasn't enough to overcome the No. 12 Vikings (10-1) in a consolation game.

Piedra Vista (Farmington, N.M.) 2, Rodriguez (Fairfield) 1: Maurissa Ellis drove in both runs to lead the No. 35 Eagles (9-1) past the Mustangs (5-1).

Camarillo 2, Cienega (Vail, Ariz.) 1: The Scorpions (4-4) got a run in the ottom of the eighth inning to pull out the victory over the Bobcats.

Freedom (Oakley) 3, Carl Sandburg (Orland Park, Ill.) 1: Fresno State-bound Hannah Williajms allowed three hits and struck out 11 and Susan Robertson and Chrissy Stalf each had RBI singles to help the Falcons (5-1) defeat the Eagles (1-2).

Sunrise Mountain (Peoria, Ariz.) 8, Chino 2: Dani Bonnet allowed four hits and struck six and Mickayla Heller went 2 for 4 wiith four RBIs as the No. 24 Mustangs (12-2-1) knocked off the Cowboys.

Contact the writer: carias@ocregister.com