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    La Habra softball hits three home runs to beat Pacifica, tighten league race
    • April 29, 2026

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    LA HABRA — La Habra’s softball team knew moving into a league that produced two of the past three CIF-SS Division 1 champions and a Division 1 runner-up would be a challenge.

    On Tuesday, the Highlanders continued to show that they have the hitting, competitiveness and resolve to contend.

    Eliana Corona, Alyssa Hernandez and Mireya Gonzalez each hit home runs as La Habra defeated visiting Pacifica 7-1 to complete a three-game sweep of the Mariners in the tight Crestview League race.

    La Habra softball players, from left, Alyssa Hernandez, Mireya Gonzalez and Eliana Corona hit home runs in a 7-1 win against visiting Pacifica in the Crestview League on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)
    La Habra softball players, from left, Alyssa Hernandez, Mireya Gonzalez and Eliana Corona hit home runs in a 7-1 win against visiting Pacifica in the Crestview League on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (Photo by Dan Albano, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    “We just knew coming into league we would have to really give it our all,” said Corona, who hit a two-run home run in the first inning. “It felt really good to (sweep) and it definitely boosts our confidence.”

    La Habra improved to 18-7 overall and 6-5 in the Crestview League. The Highlanders, who are ranked No. 10 in Orange County, trail first place El Modena (14-12, 6-4) by half-a-game.

    No. 3 Pacifica (15-10, 5-5) slipped into a tie for third place with Cypress (15-10, 5-5). Both teams are 1 1/2 games ahead of Canyon (15-10, 3-6).

    “The league is really tight right now, all five teams,” said La Habra coach Vince Peralta, whose team closes league at Canyon on Thursday. “It’s going to come down to the last games.”

    “It’s very important for us to get that win (Thursday) so we can finish at 7-5,” the second-year coach added. “It could go 7-5 for league champs.”

    Georgia Rickenbacker added a RBI single for La Habra in first and finished 4 for 4.

    In the second inning, Hernandez launched a three-run home run to push the lead to 6-0. The Sienna College commit drove in leadoff hitter Makenna Caffrey (2 for 4) and Corona with her 10th home run.

    Gonzalez, who is committed to Connecticut, capped the Highlanders’ scoring with a home run to the opposite field in the fourth.

    La Habra excelled in the circle and on defense for a well-rounded victory against Pacifica, the Division 1 champion in 2023-24.

    Pitcher Madison Payne scattered nine hits — all singles — and allowed run in 6 1/3 innings.

    Shortstop Andrea Langenberg threw out speedy Mattea Stern at the plate in the first with a slick tag applied by Corona. Second baseman Milee Valencia made a diving grab in the second and first baseman Rylee Gruener ended the game with an unassisted double play.

    “We have a good chemistry with each other,” Hernandez said of her team, which won the Freeway League last season with a 12-0 record. “It’s a privilege to be in this (league) with all these great players.”

    “Since my freshman year to my senior year, we’ve improved so much,” she added. “We’ve created a name for ourselves.”

    La Habra entered Tuesday on a two-game losing streak, including a walk-off loss against El Modena.

    “We always bounce back,” Gonzalez said. “We have a lot of trust in each other to be able to play these tough teams and beat them.”

    Stern had two hits in her return from a concussion. Natalie Pacheco and Serena Antillon also each had two hits for the Mariners, who struggled on defense.

    Pacifica plays host to Cypress on Thursday.

    “It’s just competitive,” Mariners coach Tony Arduino said of the league.

    El Modena finished as the CIF-SS Division 1 runner-up last season.

     Orange County Register 

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