DIVISION I SOFTBALL : Foothill Upsets Los Alamitos

There isn’t a senior among them, and their coach is convinced half his players don’t realize they aren’t supposed to be this good, but Foothill already has accomplished what few thought possible.

Facing the worst draw in Division I, the Knights are one victory away from the Southern Section softball championship game.

Built for speed, they won Thursday with power, beating second-seeded Los Alamitos at its own game, 7-4, at Los Alamitos.

Providing most of the jolt for Foothill was sophomore Tara Lawrence. Lawrence hit two two-run triples in what she called the best game of her life.

“In the last three games, I didn’t get on base,” she said. “Because I was (the designated hitter), I knew I had to get on base before they put someone else in for me.”

No chance of that happening now. Her drive over the right fielder’s head in the first inning gave Foothill a 3-0 lead, and her triple into right-center field finished the job, making it 7-2.

Lawrence batted .175 during the regular season with only two RBIs and 10 strikeouts in 40 at-bats. Yet, she hit losing pitcher Debbie Wilson (15-2) as if it was batting practice.

“Every once in a while, she’s capable of driving the ball,” Foothill Coach Joe Gonzalez said. “We have her in there (batting sixth) hoping she’ll get hold of one.”

Instead, she got hold of two, and the Knights needed both. Los Alamitos scored twice in the seventh. Los Alamitos (23-5) reached last year’s title game and was favored to do so again.

In consecutive games, Foothill (24-6) has beaten Huntington Beach, Kennedy and Los Alamitos, which had pitchers with combined records of 40-5.

Lawrence’s first triple was preceded by Robin Tessman’s triple and Amie Barnes’ RBI single.

Wilson settled down until the fifth inning, when Foothill scored four runs. A single, bunt, stolen base, single and fielder’s choice scored two runs as Michelle Churnock upended catcher Carolyn Wilson. Tessman scored from second when the ball went to the backstop.

In other Division I games:

Pacifica 2, Newbury Park 0--Pinch-runner Melissa Bunim scored on a wild pitch and Amy Smith had an RBI single in a two-run sixth inning as fourth-seeded Pacifica (21-5-1) advanced to play Marina in the semifinals Tuesday. Toni Mascarenas (15-4) pitched a three-hitter and Pacifica turned in a strong defensive effort.

Newbury Park (21-8) had its only scoring opportunity in the seventh inning.

Marina 1, Santa Barbara San Marcos 0--Marcy Crouch pitched a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts and Becky Thompson, Stacy Byers and Kelly Flowers each had two hits for visiting Marina (24-2), the top-seeded team.

Lompoc 2, Fountain Valley 1 (8 innings)--Lompoc (22-5) tied the game in the seventh on a home run and, with runners at second and third, scored the winning run on a double play that ended the eighth. Fountain Valley (17-9-1) stranded a runner at second in the bottom of the inning.