Villa Park Rallies to Beat Foothill, Sweep Season Series

Shawn Prichett’s sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning lifted Villa Park to a 6-5 victory over host Foothill in a Century League baseball game Friday.

The victory was the Spartans’ third this season against Foothill and moved them into sole possession of second place in league, one game behind Canyon.

“I think our guys are coming around,” Villa Park Coach Tom Tereschuk said. “Guys really performed well in certain conditions today.”

Villa Park (10-8, 7-2 in league) trailed, 2-1, going into the fifth, but Spencer Grace tied the score with his fifth homer of the season.

Jeff Tuttle, who had two home runs and a triple in Villa Park’s 13-5 victory over the Knights on Tuesday, then lined a double off the fence and Brandon Averill followed with a line-drive home run to left, giving the Spartans a 4-2 lead.

“Spencer’s a good guy to have hitting in front of you,” Averill said. “As soon as he learns something about a pitcher, he comes back to the dugout and he’ll let you know what’s going on.”

The Spartans scored another run in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead, but Brian Hayter hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to cut Villa Park’s lead back to one.

Foothill (8-9, 6-3) escaped a bases-loaded situation in the top of the sixth and then tied the score in the bottom of the inning on a leadoff home run by Omar Katz.

After Villa Park scored the go-ahead run in the seventh, Averill retired the heart of Foothill’s lineup in order to earn the complete-game victory. Averill (3-0) struck out five and walked two.