Canyon uses ace to trip up No. 4 El Modena, 2-0

Canyon ace Cheyanne Tarango is a freshman, but she played with the confidence, poise and resourcefulness of a senior to help the No. 3 Comanches knock off No. 4 El Modena, 2-0, in a Century League game Tuesday at El Modena High.

She pitched a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts to record the shutout. She came up with an amazing defensive play when things got dicey to save the game.

Tarango wasn't the only underclassmen to come through for Canyon (click here to see record). El Modena committed two errors in the bottom of the third and Canyon capitalized as freshman Taylor Ousley and sophomore Tayler Van Acker delivered back-to-back RBI singles to stake the Comanches to a 2-0 lead.

“I couldn't be prouder of my girls than I am right now,” Comanches co-coach Dan Hay said. “For a bunch of these underclassmen to come in here and take care of business the way they did, and Cheyanne pitched phenomenal to shut this team down and throw a shutout.”

Tarango threw four hitless innings, striking out eight and facing the minimum to start the game.

El Modena's Emily McEwen led off the top of the fifth with an opposite field single to break up Tarango's no-hitter. An error in the outfield allowed Anissa Zambrano to get on. Devin Vanderhoff laid down a sacrifice to move the runners to second and third and the Vanguards were in business with freshman Haylie Wagner stepping to the plate.

Tarango and Wagner have been going toe-to-toe on opposing travel ball teams since they were 10 years old.

“She's a great hitter,” Tarango said of Wagner. “I've played against her before. I've played against her pretty much all of my travel ball career, so I knew what she could do.”

Wagner fouled off pitch after pitch as Tarango tried to get her out with her best stuff. Finally, Wagner ripped a line drive up the middle, but Tarango managed to get her glove up and make the catch. She doubled up McEwen at third for the inning-ending double play.

“Haylie had a tremendous at-bat,” El Modena coach Steve Harrington said. “When I saw that kid make that catch, she didn't even know she had it. She was shocked. She saved her life by catching that ball. If that goes through, we're scoring.”

Canyon improved to 19-5 overall and, more important, 5-0 in league to take sole possession of first place. El Modena dropped to 16-8-1 and 4-1.

“It's huge,” Tarango said of the victory. “but we still have five other games and we need to get them all.”

In another Century League game:

El Dorado 2, Villa Park 1: Michelle Takeda drove in Raven Richardson with the winning run in the bottom of the 11th to lift the Golden Hawks (9-11, 3-2) over the visiting Spartans (8-13, 2-3).

In the Sea View League:

No. 1 El Toro 6 Trabuco Hills 1: Carly Land allowed two hits and struck out 11, Christina Capobianco had a double and scored two runs and Allison Dorr had an RBI double to help the host Chargers (19-5-1, 5-0) snap the Mustangs' nine-game winning streak. Trabuco Hills fell to 13-10-1 overall and 4-1 in league.

Foothill 20, Huntington Beach 5: Jaquilyn Edwards went 3 for 4 with a home run and six RBIs as the Knights (12-11, 2-3) pounded the visiting Oilers (11-11, 0-5).

Northwood 6, Woodbridge 5: Kelly Bosshart went 3 for 3 with a homer, two runs, two RBIs and two stolen bases as the Timberwolves (14-8, 3-2) held on to beat the visiting Warriors (4-16, 1-4).

In the Sunset League:

No. 9 Esperanza 8, Los Alamitos 7: Kelsea Roth went 4 for 4 with a double and two RBIs and the Aztecs (14-6-1, 3-1) scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull out the victory against the visiting Griffins (14-8, 4-1).

Marina 10, Newport Harbor 0: Rachel Gaber went 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs as the Vikings (16-7, 2-3) took care of the host Sailors (7-10, 0-4).

Edison 5, Fountain Valley 3: Rachel Miller drove in her twin sister, Danielle Miller, with a double to cap a three-run rally in the top of the seventh as the Chargers (8-13, 4-1) came from behind to beat the host Barons (3-16, 1-4).

In the Trinity League:

No. 5 Rosary 1, Santa Margarita 0: Alex Peyton tossed a five-hitter with two strikeouts to record her eighth shutout as the Royals (17-9, 4-1) beat the visiting Eagles (15-9-1, 2-3) at Clark Regional Park.

Mater Dei 12, JSerra 0:Alicia Lucatero went 2 for 4 with four RBIs and Amy Nunez went 3 for 4 with three RBIs to lead a 13-hit attack by the Monarchs (18-5, 4-1) in a victory over the host Lions (7-12, 0-4).

In the Empire League:

No. 2 Kennedy 1, Valencia 0: Cal-bound Jamia Reid got a two-out single in the bottom of the fifth, stole second and scored on an overthrow by the catcher while stealing third to give the Fighting Irish (21-3, 5-0) the victory over the visiting Tigers (11-10, 2-3).

Pacifica 6, Loara 0: UCLA-bound Andrea Harrison hit a grand slam during aa six-run fifth inning as the Mariners (15-10, 3-2) defeated the host Saxons (9-13, 2-3).

In the Freeway League:

No. 10 Fullerton 14, Buena Park 0: Cal State Fullerton-bound Katey Laban pitched allowed two hits, no walks and struck out nine as the Indians (17-6, 5-0) defeated the visiting Coyotes (1-11, 0-5) in a game that was called after five innings due the mercy rule.

Sonora 3, La Habra 1: Alexa Limon scattered three hits and struck out nine and Alexis Caciopo went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI to help the Raiders (12-10, 3-2) defeat the visiting Highlanders (9-10, 2-3).

Sunny Hills 5, Troy 4: Krista Guillory and Jaclyn Romano hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first and the Lancers (11-7, 4-1) went on to beat the visiting Warriors (8-12, 1-4).

In the South Coast League:

No. 8 Mission Viejo 2, Tesoro 0: Pacific-bound Michelle Tait pitched a two-hitter with six strikeouts as the Diablos (18-5-1, 5-0) knocked off the host Titans (11-6, 4-1) to take sole possession of first place in league.

San Clemente 12, Dana Hills 2: Rachel Stephens went 3 for 3 with a double and three RBIs and Melanie Kline hit a three-run homer as the Tritons (9-12, 3-2) knocked off the visiting Dolphins (8-12, 1-4).

In the Pacific Coast League:

Laguna Hills 2, Irvine 0: Terry Rahe's two-run double in the bottom of the ninth gave the Hawks (17-5, 4-0) a victory over the visiting Vaqueros (8-12, 2-2).

Christine Gomez went the distance, getting nine strikeouts to record the two-hit shutout.

Beckman 14, University 0: Jordan Diaz went 3 for 4 with a triple and an RBI, Jasmin Harrell went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Angie Delgado had three RBIs as the Patriots (14-5, 3-1) beat the host Trojans (3-14, 0-4) in a five-inning, mercy-rule game. A.J. Carranza went 3 for 4 with a triple and two RBIs, Katie Heldreth went 2 for 2 with two doubles and two RBIs, and Rachel Lowry had a two-run double.

In the Garden Grove League:

Rancho Alamitos 12, Santiago 1: Gabby Aragon went 2 for 2 with two doubles, three runs and two RBIs and Kari Gutierrez went 2 for 3 with a homer, two runs and four RBIs as the Vaqueros (13-6, 5-0) beat the host Cavaliers (5-8, 1-4).

Garden Grove 16, Bolsa Grande 0:Caitlin Bradac went 2 for 2 with a double, homer, three runs and three RBIs and Stephanie Rea went 1 for 4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs as the Argos (14-11, 4-1) beat the host Matadors (0-10, 0-5) in five innings via the mercy rule.

La Quinta 11, Los Amigos 1: Adriana Cardoza allowed four hits and struck out 11, Mindy Gibson had three hits, Sylvia Mohammed went 2 for 2 with two runs and three RBIs and Caity Caraballo had a triple and scored three runs to lead the Aztecs (13-6, 3-2) past the host Lobos (6-11-1, 2-3).

In the Orange League:

Savanna 8, Santa Ana Valley 0: Tanya Dowler pitched a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts and she went 2 for 3 with two runs and two stolen bases as the Rebels (13-9, 5-0) beat the host Falcons (2-14, 1-4).

Western 14, Anaheim 1: Jasmine Hernandez went 4 for 4 with two triples and three RBIs as the Pioneers (3-8, 3-1) pounded out 16 hits against the visiting Colonists (5-8, 1-3).

Contact the writer: carias@ocregister.com