Trotting Out Fox, Newbury Park Wins

While none of the eight coaches in the competitive Marmonte League expected to go undefeated through league play, there is one element that the collective group appeared to have underestimated in their assumptions of parity.

Let’s call it the Fox Factor.

Kristi Fox of Newbury Park High pitched a two-hitter, struck out eight, pitched out of a couple of jams and doubled to kick-start the Panthers to a 2-0 victory over Simi Valley Thursday at Rancho Santa Susana Community Park.

Fox (12-2), a senior right-hander who signed a letter of intent with Virginia two weeks ago, helped keep Newbury Park (17-3-1, 9-0-1 in league play) remain one game ahead of Camarillo with four games remaining.

Newbury Park Coach Mike Morgan knows Fox, who has allowed just 28 hits in 146 innings, is the trump card that has kept the Panthers winning.

“If you don’t have a Kristi Fox, you’re dead in the water [in this league],” Morgan said.

The Panthers bunched all three of their hits in the third inning to score two earned runs off sophomore right-hander Lori Tande (6-6).

Fox led off with a blast over the head of left fielder Amanda Crafton for a double. Two batters later with runners at second and third and one out, Fox scored on a wild pitch, and Emily Webster scored one pitch later on a single by Candace Roberts.

Fox, the only pitcher to record victories over all seven league opponents this season, surrendered singles to Jill Clarkson to lead off the third and to Tracie Hall with one out in the seventh, but the Pioneers advanced a runner as far as third base only once.

Simi Valley (11-9, 6-4), which has lost four of five games, including three league games this week, threatened with runners at second and third and two out in the third, but Fox struck out Dawn Carifi.

That strikeout marked the first of 11 consecutive batters that Fox retired before issuing a one-out walk to Corinne Long in the seventh.

Simi Valley Coach Suzanne Manlet, who guided the Pioneers to a surprising 6-2 start in league play, was disappointed with the loss, but not with her team’s effort.

“I was really happy with the way we played today,” Manlet said. “Unfortunately we didn’t take advantage of our opportunities. We didn’t get the breaks.”

With Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks tied for third place with four losses each, the fight for the league title appears to be between Newbury Park and Camarillo, which finished in a scoreless tie after 13 innings in their first matchup four weeks ago.

The teams play again Tuesday at Newbury Park.

“I think our next game looms large,” Morgan said.

The Fox Factor is sure to play a part.