Clutch Foothill Earns Share of League Title

Champions don’t give in easily, and second-ranked Foothill proved that Thursday as the Knights won a share of their eighth consecutive league title.

Foothill avenged only its second Century League loss in the last four years by scoring a 2-1 victory over seventh-ranked El Modena.

It forged a tie for the league title as the teams head their separate ways into next week’s playoffs. Foothill (21-4, 7-1 in league) will compete in Division I, El Modena (20-5-1, 7-1) in Division III.

The Knights won with clutch play all around.

“Who on the team didn’t make an awesome play,” asked junior Lauren Schwendimann (9-1), who pitched three innings of relief.

Left-fielder Rosie Gustavson robbed Morgan Scott of extra bases leading off the game, Lindsay Fossatti singled home Jaime Clark in the bottom of the first inning and right fielder Erin Mobley probably saved a run by throwing out (at first base) the first batter of the fourth inning.

Foothill freshman Kristen Mann opened the bottom of the sixth with a triple down into the left-field corner and scored on the next pitch as junior Eryn Manahan singled hard past junior pitcher Erin Norton (18-5).

“[Manahan] went and got it--that was the pitch I wanted to throw,” Norton said. “It tipped off my glove--if I get it down a little faster, it’s a double-play.”

Norton admitted her mistake.

“I knew what I wanted to throw, but I didn’t throw it,” Norton said. “She’s a pull hitter and I threw an inside drop. She hit it so far, I can’t think straight.”

Schwendimann did her part for Foothill, shutting down El Modena in the fifth inning after starting pitcher Courtney Fossatti hit the inning’s first two batters.

Schwendimann struck out two of the next three to retire the side. In the sixth, an error, a passed ball and a sacrifice bunt put a runner at third base, but Schwendimann made a good defensive play on Dustin Vulcan’s swinging bunt and struck out Lisa Schlueter.

Schwendimann retired the side in order in the seventh inning.

“All year it’s been, ‘Who’s our No. 1 pitcher?’ ” Foothill Coach Joe Gonzalez said. “Today, Schwendimann threw about as hard as I’ve seen her throw.”