PREP SOFTBALL : Foothill Hoping Its Luck Continues in the Playoffs

Foothill Coach Joe Gonzalez was pleased with his team’s draw when the Southern Section Division I softball pairings were released last week. Today, Gonzalez will find out just how fortunate he was.

The Knights (19-9) have been to the finals the last two years and won the 4-A title in 1992, but they moved up a division this season and will be challenged by their second-round opponent, Marina (22-3)--the county’s second-ranked team. The Vikings are led by one of the section’s top pitchers in Marcy Crouch (13-1, 0.31 ERA).

But Foothill also has five players who started in last year’s finals: pitcher Amy Tessman (who played second base last year), shortstop Michelle Churnock, left fielder Julie Metzger, center fielder Carley Rutledge and first baseman Christina Mazurie. And they’ve won 13 of their last 16 games.

One of the other outstanding matchups in the second round features Southern California Christian (18-2), which won only five games the last eight years, playing at Cerritos Valley Christian (20-4), the second-seeded team. In a Division III meeting between league champions, Torrance (17-3) will play Irvine (23-5).