Gieron’s One-Hitter Gives Foothill a Tournament Title

Mater Dei might be the talk of Orange County softball, but Foothill made its statement Saturday in the championship game of the Fountain Valley tournament.

Marie Gieron pitched a one-hitter and the third-ranked Knights pushed across one run using the international tie-breaker for a 1-0 victory over top-ranked Mater Dei in eight innings.

“Once it gets to a tie-breaker,” Mater Dei Coach Doug Myers said, “anything can happen.”

Foothill Coach Joe Gonzalez downplayed the victory: “It means we won the Fountain Valley tournament--that’s all it means.”

Maybe, but it also could affect the seedings for the Southern Section Division I playoffs--Mater Dei had been No. 1, Foothill No. 5.

It also proved the adage that good pitchers, such as Gieron (6-1) can beat good hitters. She kept the Monarchs (11-1) off-balance and off the bases. She also got a big play in the bottom of the eighth inning.

In the tie-breaker, pinch-runner Brianna Lemos began on second base and advanced to third on a bunt. Margaret Hollis’ bouncer to Gieron began a 1-5-2-6 rundown with shortstop Jamie Clark finally applying the tag in a race toward home plate.

Hollis reached third, but Jodi Schicker’s drive to center was caught and Mater Dei’s 11-game winning streak was history.

Foothill (12-1) took the lead in the top of the eighth when pinch-runner Sarah Evans scored from second on an error.

Jenny Beltran’s bunt with a 3-and-1 count was fielded by third baseman Lisa Tully, whose throw to third went into foul territory, enabling Evans to score easily.

“I thought, ‘That’s it,’ ” Gieron said. “That’s all we needed.”

Gieron threw 76 pitches, struck out two and was named the tournament’s most valuable player. Only Robin Walker managed a hit, a seventh-inning bouncer to first base with the second baseman late covering the bag.

“Everyone was saying how great Mater Dei is,” Gieron said, “but we had never had a chance to play them.”

Gieron overshadowed Mater Dei freshman Marissa Young (6-1, four hits, nine strikeouts), who had combined with Brooke Hofstetter earlier for a perfect game against fourth-ranked Woodbridge in the semifinals, a 9-0 victory. Young threw 92 pitches, only 17 balls. It was the first time Mater Dei has been outhit this season. The Monarchs had 14 hits in its victory over Woodbridge.

“They beat us,” Myers said. “What can I say? On another night, it might be different. . . . Hopefully, we’ll get another shot at them.”