Everything Goes Right for Foothill in Shutout Victory

There was good news all the way around for the Foothill softball team Friday.

The second-seeded Knights, behind a one-hitter from Elizabeth Bendig, beat visiting Aliso Niguel, 4-0, in their Southern Section Division I softball opener.

The game featured the return of Coach Joe Gonzalez, who had a kidney removed this month.

“It feels great to be back,” Gonzalez said. “I thought we played really well.”

The Knights (28-3) also had pitcher Courtney Fossatti, who may make her return to the circle next week, available, if needed. Fossatti injured an ankle several weeks ago. She was scheduled to relieve Friday, if Bendig (10-0) got into trouble, but that wasn’t the case.

Bendig faced just one batter over over the minimum. Aliso Niguel’s only hit was a bouncer to the hole between third base and shortstop by Shannon Anderson in the the sixth. Anderson narrowly beat the throw to first by Foothill shortstop Jaime Clark.

“It was a clean hit. She beat the throw,” Aliso Niguel Coach Joe Miller said. “That pitcher did a great job today. She had us chasing her rise ball.”

Bendig was not concerned about losing the no-hitter. “I think she was probably safe,” said Bendig, who struck out four.

She got good support from third baseman Tiffany Haas, who hit a change-up from losing pitcher Danielle Health over the left-field fence in the second for a 1-0 lead. It was only the second home run hit over the fence at Foothill this season.

Haas also provided defensive support, gloving would-be extra-base hits down the line in the second and sixth innings.

The Knights added three more runs in the third inning on three hits, a wild pitch, an error and some pour defensive work by the Wolverines. Clark delivered the big blow, a sharp line drive off the glove of drawn-in third baseman Jessica Vernaglia that went for a two-run double.