SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : Villa Park, McArthur Beat Foothill

Villa Park softball Coach Dave Shelton is happy his Spartans had 16 games to prepare for the Century League race.

“Our girls finally learned how to bunt properly and because of it we are 2-0 in league,” Shelton said Thursday after two sacrifice bunts set up the only run of the game against Foothill.

Heather Culver singled home Julie Riley with one out in the seventh inning to give Villa Park a 1-0 victory. The Spartans are 11-7, 2-0.

Riley opened the bottom of the seventh with a single down the left-field line. Tammy Kincaid was safe when her bunt was mishandled. Silvia Salgado’s bunt traveled less than a foot, but it was enough to move both runners over. Culver then singled to left center.

Brandee McArthur (6-3) pitched a two-hitter but had to survive a shaky first inning. Foothill (13-6, 1-1) loaded the bases when Laureen Bayer was safe on a passed ball after a strikeout and Gieron and Amie Barnes walked. McArthur struck out the next batter--her third strikeout of the inning--to end the threat.

McArthur helped herself by catching a line drive and turning it into a double play in the second inning. Only one Foothill runner reached base--on a walk--in the final five innings.