ANAHEIM >> The Canyon softball team has been on an offensive roll lately and that surge has continued this week in the Michelle Carew Classic.
The Comanches collected 10 hits and got outstanding pitching and hitting from senior Kylee Magee in a five-inning, 8-0 victory over Cathedral Catholic of San Diego in the second round of the tournament Thursday at Peralta Park.
The tournament has a rule that a game ends when a team has a lead of at least eight runs after five innings.
Canyon starting pitcher Kylee Magee delivers a pitch against Cathedral Catholic in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Sam Gresham crosses the plate to score a run against Cathedral Catholic in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Dakota Friedrich, right, gets high-fives from teammates after scoring a run against Cathedral Catholic in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Amanda Siller, second from right, is welcomed by teammates after scoring a run against Cathedral Catholic in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon starting pitcher Kylee Magee winds to deliver a pitch against Cathedral Catholic in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Dakota Friedrich, left, scores a run against Cathedral Catholic in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon pitcher Kylee Magee, right, celebrates with Victoria Oropeza (10) after defeating Cathedral Catholic in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Dakota Friedrich, right, slides under the tag of Cathedral Catholic third baseman Sinalei Talataina, left, in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Paloma Saenz (22) is tagged out at the plate by Cathedral Catholic catcher Ab’C’De Patane as she trys to score another run for the Comanches in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon’s Skye Limardo connects against Cathedral Catholic in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Cathedral Catholic starting pitcher Candace Tarle winds to deliver a pitch against Canyon in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Cathedral Catholic shortstop Shea Johnson misplayed a ground ball against Canyon in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Cathedral Catholic shortstop Shea Johnson turns to get a force out at second against Canyon in the second round of the Michelle Carew Classic Tournament in Anaheim on Thursday, March 31, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Canyon has won six in a row since losing back-to-back games in the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City, Arizona, on March 11 and 12.
Since then, the Comanches have outscored their six opponents by a combined score of 55-3, with four shutouts.
Canyon coach Jess Carbajal said his squad doesn’t have the home run power of last’s year’s Comanches but possesses better overall hitting throughout the lineup.
“Everybody is hitting on this team,” Carbajal said. “They all know they are playing for each other. We work on hitting every single day. We are not looking for long balls. As long as we can base-hit you, we’re going to tire you out.”
The Comanches did the majority of their damage in the second inning, scoring five runs on five hits and sending 10 batters to the plate.
The big hits in the inning were an RBI double from Annabella Fraser, RBI singles from Magee and Skye Limardo and a two-RBI single from Paloma Saenz.
Magee wound up going 3 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
“We have a lot of young girls and they’re just ready to hit the ball,” Magee said. “We are doing a way better job of just attacking the pitches earlier instead of waiting till late in the game to score.”
Magee allowed one hit and one walk and picked up eight strikeouts, mostly with a rise ball that moved sharply.
“My first pitch I was just going outside hard,” said Magee, who will be attending Arizona State. “I only threw two changeups, because I really didn’t think I needed to throw them.”
After giving up a hit to the first batter she faced and walking the first hitter in the second, Magee retired the next 12 batters in row and didn’t allow a runner to advance past first base.
“Kylee is an exceptional pitcher and an exceptional human being,” Carbajal said. “She is the captain on this team and she would never ask anybody to do anything she wouldn’t do.”
