Barons Upset No. 2 Foothill in Title Game

Natalie King pitched a two-hitter and Tiffani Miller scored on Kristin Crowder’s single in the second inning to help fifth-ranked Fountain Valley upset second-ranked Foothill, 1-0, Saturday in the championship of the Fountain Valley Tournament at the Fountain Valley Recreation Center.

Miller walked to start the second inning and advanced to second on Nicole Rambis’ sacrifice bunt.

Sarah Leon then grounded out. Crowder singled into shallow center field and Miller tried to score from second. When she neared the plate, catcher Jamie Dotson was blocking her path, so Miller ran around the catcher and dove back, touching home with her fingertips before the tag.

King (13-3) struck out 15 batters for the Barons (13-4). On the two occasions Foothill (15-2) got a hit, King got out of the inning with a strikeout.

In the first inning, Autumn Champion singled with one out, but King ended the inning by striking out Courtney Fossatti and Kristen Mann.

In the sixth inning, Fossatti singled down the left-field line with two outs and stole second, but King struck out Mann.

Fossatti (10-1) gave up two hits and struck out seven in seven innings.

Fossatti also pitched her way out of jams. The Barons’ Nicole Rambis singled with two outs in the fourth inning, but Fossatti got Leon to fly out to end the inning.

Fossatti struck out the side in the fifth and didn’t give up a baserunner the rest of the game.

It was the Barons’ second victory over the Knights this season. Fountain Valley beat Foothill in eight innings, 1-0, in a semifinal at the Mojave Tournament on March 18.