HACIENDA HEIGHTS — Los Altos freshman pitcher Kaylahni Duenas was as cool as can be following a dominant performance against South Hills in Wednesday’s Hacienda League opener.

Duenas tossed a one-hit shutout with three strikeouts, and also had two hits and two RBIs to lead Los Altos to a 6-0 victory.

It’s one thing for Duenas to do this against an overmatched opponent, but the Huskies are one of the area’s top hitting teams.

Nervous? Not Duenas.

“I was just in my zone,” Duenas said. “I know I’m in my zone when I feel like I’m owning it. I just know when I’m going to throw strikes. I love owning the circle and I love being confident.”

Los Altos (11-5, 1-0) beat out South Hills (8-5-1, 0-1) for the league title last year, and they entered league as the two favorites.

Brianah Alejandre, the Conquerors UCLA-bound shortstop, tripled to lead off the game and scored three times.

Jasmine Campos was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and Bianca Falomir doubled and later tripled in a run.

But it starts with pitching and Duenas never looked shaky or out of control. She didn’t overpower the Huskies because she didn’t need too.

“We always emphazie pitching, and for Kaylahni to be in her first game against South Hills, her first league game, she was absolutely hitting her spots,” Los Altos coach Lydell McCullough said. “She knows she doesn’t have to get a strikeout every damn time, we have a good defense behind her. And she made some clutch hits as well. She came through for us along with some other girls.”

You could have put together a highlight reel on some of Alejandre’s plays a short. But none were prettier than the 6-4-3 double play she started in the fifth inning.

“Honestly, it comes down us having energy,” Alejandre said. “Kaylahni out there doing her thing and all she has to do is trust her defense. All she has to worry about is pitching the ball and we’re going to have her back on defense.”

Alejandre tripled to lead off the first inning and scored on Duenas’ sacrifice fly to center for a 1-0 lead.

The Conquerors kept the pressure on in the third inning.

Duenas got her second RBI singling home Falomir, and Campos’ single to right brought in Alejandre for a 3-0 lead.

Duenas took her at bat personal, because the Huskies walked Alejandre to get to her.

“I was mad they intentionally walked Bri to get to me, so first pitch I knew it was going to be there and I wanted to do a job for my team.”

Campos came up with the bases loaded in the fifth inning and singled to center, scoring Falomir and Alejandre to extend the Conquerors’ lead to 5-0.