Quick Start for Anaheim Canyon

Anaheim Canyon began this season with half as many returning starters as a year ago and much lower expectations. And thus far, the results don’t compare either.

The Comanches averaged 12 runs a game in winning the Anaheim Loara tournament last week, proving they again are a favorite to win the Century League, which has been moved to Division I for the Southern Section playoffs.

At the beginning of last season, Canyon had one of the most feared lineups in the Southland and began the season ranked No. 1 by The Times.

But after finishing third in the Loara tournament last year, Canyon was shut out twice in April by Century League opponents, was out-slugged in its final two league games by Villa Park and was then upset by wild-card Newhall Hart in the second round of the Division II playoffs.

With four starters and six others with varsity experience returning, the Comanches made a concerted effort to bond as a team. Brian Dunn, a senior leadoff hitter and center fielder, said the attitude and lower expectations have fueled their better play.

“In a way, it kind of took the pressure off of us,” Dunn said. “We used that team concept to get fired up for games and it made it easier to go into the tournament.”

Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley is expected to soon welcome back its No. 1 pitcher, Doug Blum, who has not played this season because of a foot injury. Blum was originally expected to be out for the season, Coach Bob Zamora said.

“It has healed amazingly fast,” Zamora said.

Hart, which ended Chatsworth’s state-record 54-game winning streak Saturday in the final of the Moorpark/Southern California Showdown Gold Division tournament, will be without its No. 2 pitcher, junior Tyler Lyon, who will need six to eight weeks to rest a tendon injury in his pitching elbow.