SOFTBALL / CENTURY LEAGUE : Foothill Clinches Share of Title

Marie Gieron didn’t mind the question; she reveled in it.

How does it make you feel that everyone thinks pitching is your team’s weakness?

The Foothill pitcher smiled.

“I know I have a great team behind me,” Gieron said, “and my defense will get the job done. My coaches have faith in me. My teammates have faith in me. Let (the skeptics) think what they want--let them come see us play.”

Those who watched Thursday saw the not-so-intimidating Gieron strike out two--but pitch a one-hitter--against Villa Park; the 5-0 victory by second-ranked Foothill clinched a share of the Knights’ fifth consecutive Century League title.

Those who watched also saw Villa Park’s free-fall continue. Since the Spartans beat Foothill (21-2, 7-1 in league)--at the time ranked second in the state and No. 1 in Orange County--Villa Park (14-11, 3-5) has lost four straight and gone from first place to hoping for an at-large playoff berth.

Two games remain.

Gieron, now 16-2, let her defense do its usual job:

* Left fielder Lauren Bauer (two hits, one run batted in) ran down a deep fly over her head in the first inning with a runner on second.

* Center fielder Carley Rutledge (two hits, two runs) robbed Dora Arenas of extra bases, making a diving catch of a line drive in the right-center field alley.

* Michelle Churnock (single, run, RBI) made play after play at shortstop.

Gieron needed only 69 pitches to get through seven innings. Villa Park’s only hit was a third-inning bunt by Amber Daniels.

“I don’t think she’s a so-so pitcher,” Villa Park Coach Tim Shelton said. “She doesn’t give you that dominant impression, but speed is entirely overrated if you can hit your spots and keep people off-balance.”

Foothill used its speed on the basepaths to upend Tammy Kincaid (9-5)--who’s getting all Villa Park’s starts because Brandee McArthur has a muscle strain in her pitching arm. McArthur shut out Foothill in the last meeting but won’t pitch again until the playoffs--if the Spartans make the playoffs.

The Knights scored in the first as a bases-loaded infield fly fell between three fielders. They scored three runs in the fifth on two hits and two errors and another in the sixth inning. Robin Tessman also had an RBI.

In other Century League games:

Canyon 12, El Modena 2 (5)--Everyone in the lineup had at least one RBI and Becky Tippets had a two-run triple as Canyon (14-11, 5-3) remained tied with Orange; the two play Tuesday at Canyon.

Orange 8, Santa Ana Valley 0--Dara Marzolo had a two-run triple and scored three times and Alison Bond pitched a two-hitter for Orange (11-9, 5-3).