Foothill, Haas Steal a Win From Barons

Maybe Tiffany Haas would have scored from second base on Elizabeth Bendig’s shallow single, maybe not. But when Haas stole third base while the catcher was throwing the ball back to the pitcher, she eliminated any doubt.

Haas scored easily on Bendig’s soft bouncer up the middle, Courtney Fossatti pitched a one-hitter, and third-seeded Foothill exorcised a demon with a 1-0 victory over Fountain Valley and pitcher Natalie King.

The Knights improved to 31-2 against a pitcher, King (24-8), who beat them twice this season.

“I’ll trade those two for this one,” said Foothill Coach Joe Gonzalez, whose team advances to a semifinal Tuesday against the winner of today’s Moreno Valley Valley View-Etiwanda game. “They’re a very good team, and Natalie is spectacular.”

King faced only two batters over the minimum, Fossatti (22-1) only three. King gave up four hits and struck out eight in six innings. She walked only one batter, Haas, with one out in the second inning. Haas stole second base, then third on a delay steal.

“I did it on my own,” Haas said. “I saw an open chance that I could take.”

Haas stole the only two bases against catcher Kristin Crowder, who threw out three and picked off another. “They caught us off-guard,” King said of Haas’ heads-up move. “It was a real smart play.”

With two outs, Bendig singled on an 0-2 pitch.

Through six innings, Fountain Valley had only one runner, on Sarah Leon’s third-inning single. Then Fossatti walked Tiffani Miller leading off the seventh.

“The last inning was pretty scary,” Fossatti said.

Pinch-runner Candice Alcantara reached third base on a passed ball and sacrifice. Cleanup batter Christina Skaggs bounced to Fossatti, and after Fossatti hit Jenny Doezie, Inez Vasquez lined out to second base.