Softball roundup: Sunny Hills' Elayna Marquez hits three home runs in win
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Elayna Marquez of Sunny Hills not only extended her lead in the Orange County home run race, she moved within striking distance of the county record.
The senior hit three home runs and drove in six runs in an 11-1 victory against visiting Crean Lutheran on Wednesday to raise her total to 16 home runs.
The single-season county record for home runs is 20. Natalie Gleason of Capistrano Valley Christian set the mark in 2022.
Marquez went 4 for 4 and hit a home run for the third consecutive game to help Sunny Hills improve to 12-12-1 overall and 6-4 in the North Hills League. The Lancers are in second place.
With her sister Alia Marquez serving as Sunny Hills’ first-year coach, Marquez is hitting .609 with 13 doubles and 50 RBIs.
Marquez is committed to Eastern New Mexico.
Her freshman teammate Destiny Duff ranks second in the county with 11 home runs.
Five players have 10 home runs. They are: La Habra’s Alyssa Hernandez, Cypress’ Tia Hernandez, Costa Mesa’s Analeah Vaca, Mater Dei’s Tulutululelei Salue and Whittier Christian’s Mia Camacho.
On Thursday, Sunny Hills plays host to first place Foothill (15-18, 10-0), which has won 13 consecutive games. The Knights have the longest active winning streak in the county.
In other games Wednesday:
In the Crestview League:
E Modena 4, Canyon 1: Ashley Driskill allowed one run on four hits and struck out eight as the Vanguards (15-12, 7-4) claimed at least a share of the league title.
Driskill tossed her second complete game in as many days.
Lucy Mitchell went 2 for 3 with two doubles and two RBIs to help lead the El Modena offense. Catcher Parker Mayes had a solo home run for the Vanguards, who have won four consecutive games in league.
El Modena plays host to Pacifica (15-10, 5-5) on Tuesday to close league.
In the Empire League:
Fullerton 10, Kennedy 0: Katelynn Mathews pitched a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts, and Hayley Brock and Kaylyn Yi each had three hits to lead the top-ranked Indians (22-2).
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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 11:50 PM.