Foothill Remains on Course
The only consistent thing in Orange County softball this season has been the performance of top-ranked Foothill.
The Knights added to their victory total again Tuesday behind Courtney Fossatti, who pitched a complete-game three-hitter, drove in a run and scored another in a 3-0 victory over fourth-ranked Canyon in the Century League opener.
Fossatti retired the first 14 batters. Coupled with her own performance Saturday in a victory over Marina, and Elizabeth Bendig’s no-hitter against West Hills Chaminade, the two Foothill players combined for 13 consecutive innings without allowing a base hit. Over the longer span, until Kim Jents’ seeing-eye single in the fifth inning, Fossatti and Bendig had allowed hits in only two of the previous 23 innings, including Fossatti’s perfect game against Rosary.
It’s just another example of the consistency of Foothill (13-1, 1-0), which has had its healthy first-team lineup for only two innings this season . There has always been someone absent from the lineup, or playing hurt. Even Tuesday, outfielder Caitlin Lowe was out of the lineup with a broken wrist, which happened in the third inning against Aliso Niguel. She is supposed to have her cast removed today.
“We handle adversity,” said Foothill Coach Joe Gonzalez. “That’s our strength.”
It helps to have 13 players who can fill roles despite a teammate’s absence. With Lowe, normally the leadoff batter, in the dugout, Autumn Champion led off the first inning with a bunt single, stole second, took third on a delay steal, and scored on an infield single to shortstop by Fossatti. Fossatti also doubled and knocked the ball from the catcher to score on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.
“They can move people all over the lineup,” said Canyon Coach Lance Eddy. “Some of us can’t afford to lose that many players.”
Canyon (12-5, 0-1) was without its No. 2 and 4 hitters, Ashley Becker (rib) and Laura Kimborowicz (broken finger). But the Comanches aren’t Foothill.
“We have a lot of athletic players who will adjust for what’s best for the team,” said Fossatti (8-1) after her five-strikeout performance. “We don’t have a lot of players, but we have a lot of options.”
In other Century League games:
El Modena 1, Villa Park 0 (8 innings)--In the eighth, Morgan Scott reached first on an error then scored on Norrelle Dickson’s single when the ball got under the leftfielder’s glove. Winning pitcher Lindsay Klein (7-5) went the distance, striking out six and walking none for the visiting Vanguards (8-5, 1-0). Kindal Kincaid (3-4) struck out five and had two hits for Villa Park (3-6, 0-1).
Orange 2, Santa Ana Valley 0--Arlene Newton pitched a two-hitter, struck out 16, walked none and gave up no earned runs, but took the loss for visiting Santa Ana Valley (2-11, 0-1). Vanessa Zboril had eight strikeouts and gave up one hit for Orange (5-5, 1-0).