DePompa shines in tight situation

Jeff Smith

ALHAMBRA -- The term “save” was created for this type of situation.

With the bases loaded and just one out in the bottom of the sixth,

Foothill-Tujunga pitcher Lainey DePompa was brought in to record the

final two outs and save the day.

DePompa did just that Sunday, but not without some tense moments, as

Foothill-Tujunga stayed alive in the double-elimination tourney by

beating Mission Hills, 5-3, in a second-chance bracket game of the Little

League Section 2, 9- and 10-year-old Softball All Star Tournament at

Granada Park.

DePompa recorded the second out in the sixth by inducing a grounder to

shortstop Veronica Giarrizzo, who then threw home for the force. That

brought up Mission Hills leadoff hitter Paula Ferreira. With Mission

Hills’ three baserunners eager to take off, Ferreira worked a full count

that caused a tension-filled few seconds before the payoff pitch.

DePompa fired the pitch. Ferreira swung... and missed. Ballgame.

“That was a little too close and too exciting for us old guys,”

Foothill-Tujunga Coach Ron DePompa said. “I’m really proud of Lainey to

come in there and retire the side.”

Chelsea Barone recorded the win for throwing 4 1/3 strong innings,

striking out seven.

The offensive sparkplug for Foothill-Tujunga was speedy Vanesa Davis,

who entered the game in the third as a pinch runner. Davis had an

run-scoring single in the fifth and then stole third and scored on a wild

pitch to ignite her team.

Foothill-Tujunga is back in action at 7:30 p.m. tonight against

Arcadia or Monte Vista.

BOX SCORE

Fthl-Tuj*0*0*0*1*3*1*--*5*5*1

Miss. Hills*0*1*0*0*0*2*--*3*2*5

Fthl-Tuj*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K

Taylor*1.0*1*0*0*2*2

Barone*4.1*2*2*2*5*7

DePompa*0.2*0*0*0*0*1

Total*6*3*2*2*7*10

Miss. Hills*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K

Contreras*6*5*3*5*4*7

WP-Barone (2-0). LP-Contreras (n/a).

SV-DePompa (1).

SB: Fh-Tj-Acosta 2, Davis, Bishop.