CENTURY LEAGUE SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : Foothill Survives Scare, Holds Off Orange for 2-0 Victory

Foothill scored two runs early and survived a fifth-inning scare to defeat Orange, 2-0, in a Century League softball opener Tuesday at Hillview School in Santa Ana.

Foothill’s Marie Gieron breezed through four innings, retiring 13 batters in a row after Chris Puccio led off the game with a single. But Gieron ran into trouble in the fifth.

After striking out Carrie Habhab to start the inning, Gieron gave up singles to Allison Bond, Vicki Villano and LaNelle Tucker, loading the bases. But the sophomore right-hander struck out No. 9 hitter Lindsay Huebner on a rising fastball, and Puccio on a pitch in the dirt to end the inning.

“When they had the bases loaded, striking out Puccio was really big for us,” Foothill Coach Joe Gonzalez said. “She’s capable of hitting one out of here. I think (Gieron) let down a bit on the bottom of their order, and fell behind in some counts. If she stays ahead, she’s tough.”

The Knights (13-5, 1-0), ranked ninth in Orange County, scored single runs in the first two innings. In the bottom of the first, Michelle Churnock led off with an infield single, and was sacrificed to second by Lauren Bauer. First baseman Robin Tessman followed with a single to left, scoring Churnock.

In the second, Huebner, Orange’s starter, got two quick outs but hit No. 9 hitter Marisa Holmes in the foot. Holmes then stole second and third, and scored when Churnock chopped a ball to shortstop and narrowly beat the throw for an infield single.

Orange is 9-4, 0-1.