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ANAHEIM — Esperanza graduated a few key seniors from its CIF-SS championship softball squad last season but the Aztecs still have plenty of experience to be dangerous.

Especially after a well-timed, team bonding activity.

No. 8 Esperanza held a team dinner the day before its Crestview League opener against No. 3 Villa Park on Tuesday, and promptly achieved just the type of performance it hoped for.

UC Riverside-bound pitcher Brooke Perez fired a three-hitter and the reigning Division 1 champion turned two double-plays en route to a 3-0 victory in its best showing of the season.

“Coming into this (game), we were all hyped,” said Perez, who posted her first shutout of the season for Esperanza (14-9, 1-0).

“We’re really wanted to have a good game. Win or lose, we just wanted to be able to put our best on the field and be happy with what we did.”

Perez, who filled in last season when ace Emily Gomez was injured, retired the final 11 batters she faced against Villa Park (17-3, 0-1), ranked 16th in the nation by MaxPreps.

The stretch started with a slick double play turned for the first outs of the fourth inning by returning second baseman Audrey Robles and returning shortstop Sharyn Duncan.

Perez overcame a muscle spasm in her arm to record two of her three strikeouts in the seventh, including one looking to end the game.

Duncan, a junior, also started a double play in the first inning by ranging up the middle to field a sharp grounder, stepping on second base for the force and firing to freshman first baseman Jenna Gober.

Esperanza turned both double plays one batter following hits by the Spartans.

“Huge,” Esperanza coach Ed Tunstall said of the defense. “(Brooke) has been pitching well all year but it’s a big game for us. It’s a league game. We want to get to the playoffs. There’s a lot on the line. .. She pitched a great game.”

Villa Park freshman pitcher Auddrey Lira, filling in for the injured ace Sydney Somerndike (sprained ankle), also pitched well. She allowed one earned run and scattered seven hits.

Esperanza senior third baseman Sabrina Seaton sparked a three-run third inning with a two-out double to center to score Duncan.

Seaton, also a key returner, connected on a 2-2 pitch in a duel with Lira, who appeared to pick up her strikes on outstanding change-ups.

Esperanza returning catcher Bella Altamirano, a junior, then followed with a drive to near the fence that deflected off the glove of an outfielder as two runs scored.

“She’s very good for a freshman,” the Arizona-bound Somerndike said of Lira. “She’s good at keeping the hitters off balance. I think she has a good drop ball. She has a lot of potential and I think she’s going to mature very quickly and she’s going to be a great pitcher for this team in the future.”

Senior shortstop Mikayla Maher paced Villa Park’s defense with several putouts without an error.

Freshman designated player Charley Duncan went 3 for 3 to help the pace the Aztecs’ attack.

Esperanza was coming off a 1-4 showing at the Michelle Carew Classic but also benefited from a positive attitude for its league opener.

“We’re started this thing today, we flush (away struggles),” Perez said. “We have to forget about what is in the past.”

More results to come. Please check back.

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