Gillies Still a Thrill for Saugus : High school softball: Sophomore pitches one-hitter in 4-0 victory over Crescenta Valley. Centurions earn a berth in the Division II semifinals.

The Saugus High softball team entered the Southern Section Division II quarterfinals Thursday against Crescenta Valley with the same swagger it had after surviving one tight game after another this season.

After all, Jamie Gillies was pitching, and that would prove to be enough as the Centurions knocked off the Falcons, 4-0, to extend their high-wire act into the semifinals on Tuesday.

It’s becoming a familiar refrain for the Centurions (27-2-1)--even with their offense struggling, they have won because of Gillies, who shut out the Falcons (22-5) with a one-hit, one-walk performance.

“I just wanted to blow ‘em all down,” said Gillies (23-2-1), a sophomore right-hander. “If we can score one or two runs, we’ve got the feeling we can hold ‘em.”

Never mind that Saugus would have been hitless if not for a three-run barrage in the fourth inning that ensured the win. One run would have been enough for Gillies to work with, and it was when she blanked Mayfair, 1-0, in the second round on Tuesday.

“It’s been something I’ve gotten used to,” Gillies said. “Close games are going to happen a lot and the team came through with some clutch hits.

“I’m just glad we’re going to the next round.”

Said Saugus Coach Ron Hilton: “That’s probably the best she’s pitched in quite a while. Jamie’s going to keep us in a lot of ballgames.”

The Centurions were holding a 1-0 lead until Kelli Kranz tripled to lead off the fourth and Chris Gill followed with single that made it 2-0.

“All the power hitters have been struggling,” catcher Jeanine Giordano said, “but we’ve got others behind them who have helped us out.”

Next up was Giordano, who doubled to drive in Gill. Jennifer Bittick’s doubled brought Giordano home to put Saugus ahead, 4-0.

“We haven’t been hitting as well as we can right now,” Giordano said, “but right now we’re getting so pumped and amped we’re starting to hit as a team.”

Saugus is steadily approaching its second appearance in the championship game in the last three years, a fact that is not lost on Hilton.

“I’m not going to stress quite so much this time,” he said. “Getting there is the work. Being there will be fun.”

The Centurions got the only run they really needed in the second inning after Crescenta Valley’s Kim Scott walked Giordano.

Giordano was sacrificed to second and scored when Bittick’s drive to center was dropped for an error.