Two Guys too much for Mariners

In most cases, the members of the Foothill Two Guys Minor Softball team put up a lot hits.

When they don’t, they can be just as dangerous by being patient during each plate appearance.

Top-seeded Two Guys collected just two hits, including a three-run home run from Samantha Fabian, to pick up an 11-1 victory against the sixth-seeded Crescenta Valley Mariners on June 11 in the championship contest of the Tri-Cities District 16 Little League Knockout Tournament at Scholl Canyon Ball Fields.

The contest was called in the bottom of the fifth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule. Two Guys scored 21 runs in their last two tournament games.

“We only got two hits, but we’ve been able to manufacture runs all season long,” said Two Guys Coach Todd Fabian, whose team advanced to the championship game June 9 with a 10-2 win against the Jewel City/Jewish War Veterans Angels. “Also, sometimes the ball bounces the right way for us.

“After five months of hard work, it feels good to win it all. We’ve been working on it since February.”

Two Guys scored five runs in the bottom of the first to overcome a 1-0 deficit, and then scored four in the second to take a 9-1 lead.

Samantha Fabian hit a three-run home run to center in the second to give Two Guys the 9-1 advantage.

“We did our best to win the championship,” said the younger Fabian, who scored a pair of runs. “We had to work hard to win it, and we have a good team.

“I was excited to hit a home run because that’s what I wanted to do. It’s my fifth home run of the season.”

The Mariners, who moved on to the championship game with an 8-4 victory against the Vaquero City Employees on June 8, took a quick 1-0 lead in the first when Maddy Ellison led off with a double and scored on two throwing errors. Ellison finished with two of the Mariners’ three hits.

Four of Two Guys’ five runs in the first came on wild pitches.

“You’ve got to give them credit because they had some walks and they were aggressive on the bases,” said Mariners Coach Cary McReynolds, who got a first-inning single from Aprylle Salvador. “They deserved it.

“We were good enough to get here. I thought we had a shot, but they just played an excellent game.”

Two Guys starting pitcher Jordan Lousararian picked up the victory. She struck out eight in three innings.