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Esperanza’s softball team first celebrated former coach Ed Tunstall in a pregame ceremony. The Aztecs later celebrated a walk-off win against Sonora.
Yes, it was a memorable home opener for the Aztecs on Monday.
Junior Madison Modrell hit a 3-2 pitch for a two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift Esperanza to a 15-14 win against Sonora.
It was Modrell’s first home run.
“It was a good day,” said Esperanza coach Johan Acu, who replaced Tunstall last season.
Before the game, the Aztecs honored Tunstall with a plaque mounted above one of the entrances to their field. The plaque, in the shape of a home plate, recognizes the Orange County Hall of Fame coach who guided the Aztecs for 21 seasons, including their CIF-SS Division 1 title in 2021.
The plaque highlights his 357 victories, 12 league championships and 19 playoff appearances.
Esperanza’s softball team honored former coach Ed Tunstall with a plaque and pregame ceremony before its home opener against Sonora on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. (Courtesy of Andrea Ratcliff)Tunstall attended the event and threw out the first pitch using softball’s windmill arm rotation.
Esperanza is seeking to improve after finishing 7-21 last season and missing the playoffs.
The Aztecs, off to a 2-1 start, have been moved to the North Hills League this spring after playing in the highly-competitive Crestview League for the past five seasons.
Esperanza is led by senior captain Tayloran Sicard, an all-league shortstop who is committed to Alfred University in New York. Last season, Alfred reached the NCAA Division III championships.
The squad also features a trio of transfers: center fielder Alisa Fair (Rosary), infielder Jacie Jerotz (Yorba Linda) and outfielder Riley Rodriguez (Yorba Linda). Fair, a junior, is committed to Campbell University in North Carolina.
All three players will be allowed to start playing when the sit-out period for transfers ends March 27.
Esperanza returns senior Calista Van Artsdalen to a pitching staff that includes one junior and two freshmen.
The Aztecs belted four other home runs Monday. They were from Van Artsdalen, freshman Luciana Terran and sophomores Leilani Thomas and and Abby McCann.
“We are a young team and in the process of connecting the dots and putting it all together,” Acu said.
GAME OF THE WEEK
El Modena plays host to Fullerton (2-0) on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. in a clash of teams ranked in the Orange County preseason Top 10.
Fullerton has received strong starts by Katelynn Mathews and Malaya Majam-Finch in victories against Yorba Linda and St. Paul, respectively. Majam-Finch had nine strikeouts in six innings.
NOTES
Orange Lutheran, No. 1 in the Orange County preseason rankings, fell to reigning Division 1 champion Norco 2-1 in the Norco showcase last week. Pitcher Jo Marsh (UCLA) scattered five hits in six innings against the Cougars, who scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Norco ace Coral Williams (UCLA) allowed five hits with 11 strikeouts against the Lancers, who scored an unearned run in the third. …
Mater Dei edged Los Alamitos 5-4 last week en route to a 1-1 start. The Monarchs fell to La Mirada 2-1.
Los Alamitos sophomores Jaliane Brooks and Julia Gordon each hit two-run home runs against Mater Dei. …
Former Rosary All-County pitcher Ava Phillips has enrolled at Ganesha and will observe the sit-out period, the junior confirmed. Ganesha is among the entries for the Michelle Carew Classic that will be held April 1-4. …
Orange County’s entries for the 32-team Carew Classic are: Canyon, Capistrano Valley, El Modena, Esperanza, Fullerton, Los Alamitos, Marina and Orange Lutheran. …
Marina’s Mia Valbuena racked up 17 strikeouts against North Torrance and 15 against Warren to lead the Vikings to a 2-0 start at the O.C. Showcase. Marina continues the showcase Saturday by playing host to Whittier Christian at 9 a.m. …
Canyon defeated San Clemente 7-5 on a walk-off, two-run home run by Mia Saenz in the teams’ opener in the O.C. Showcase.
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