Softball: Stiglich’s homer pushes Hart to big win

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For awhile there, I thought Tuesday’s Foothill League contest between Hart and Valencia would never end. Predictably, the teams were locked in a pitchers’ duel and I thought we’d have to go at least eight or nine innings before someone would get to Valencia’s Jessica Spigner or Destiny Rodino of Hart.

So you could imagine how surprised I was when Hart’s Heather Stiglich pounded out a solo home run to deep center field in the top of the seventh inning to break a scoreless tie. Not only did the junior first baseman ruin my extra-innings outlook, but her big hit was enough to push the Indians to a 1-0 victory -- Hart’s first victory over its archrivals in more than four years.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Vikings rallied behind a single by Caitlin Rooney and a Hart defensive miscue that transformed what could have been a routine ground ball into a free pass to third base for pinch runner Lindsay Clark. But the Vikings’ hopes of a comeback were wiped out when Stiglich turned a double play by picking off Clark at third to end the game.

Now, Hart Coach Steve Calendo and Valencia Coach Donna Lee didn’t know the date of the Indians’ last victory over the seven-time defending Foothill League champions, but Hart right fielder Alexis Caso insisted it had been five seasons since an Indians’ victory -- and she was right.

Hart’s last triumph over Valencia was in a 1-0 victory on April 1, 2004. Tuesday’s win broke the Indians’ eight-game losing streak to the Vikings and sort of avenged Hart’s 1-0 Division I championship loss to Valencia last June. It also dissolved Valencia’s 17-game league winning streak.

Hart was definitely pumped up following the victory, which has to be considered its biggest of the season and a great momentum-builder for the second half of league play. Still, these teams are among the most evenly-matched in the Southland, and I have no idea who’ll win the May 1 rematch.

-- Austin Knoblauch

-- Image from www.emmortonrec.com