Foothill on to Sectionals
NORTHEAST GLENDALE — The members of the Foothill Major All-Star Softball team didn’t need an on-field ceremony or a banner to celebrate their Little League District 16 title Wednesday night.
They’re used to winning championships.
Moments after winning another title — with a 10-3 victory against Crescenta Valley at Scholl Canyon Park — Foothill ate some pizza, enjoyed the moment and immediately focused on a team that has given it fits the past two years.
Foothill will play Quartz Hill — which has knocked Todd Fabian’s teams out of the postseason in the championship game of the Section 2 Tournament on the younger levels each of the past two years — on July 7 in an opening-round game of the sectional tournament in Canyon Country.
“They’re a very good team,” said Foothill leadoff hitter Sammy Fabian, who scored twice Wednesday.
Fabian is part of a Foothill nucleus that has rampaged through district tournaments in each of the past four seasons.
As 9-years-olds, Fabian joined teammates Jordan Lousararian, Alexandra Howard, and Miranda Diaz in winning the district’s Minor Softball title. The quartet helped Foothill repeat as Minor Softball champions the following year before winning the 11-year-old tournament last year.
Foothill’s Arianna Campbell has been a part of three of those crowns, and Sophie Georges, Catherine Spencer, Claire Smith and Julie Smith have won two. Regina Kim and Katia Colwell joined Foothill this season.
“They’re playing like a team,” Todd Fabian said. “They know each other’s weaknesses and they pick each other up. The best thing about this team is they all jell together.”
They’re also an aggressive team.
Foothill combined for 28 runs and 25 hits in defeating Crescenta Valley twice in the two-team tournament. Foothill defeated Crescenta Valley, 18-4, in four innings on Monday.
Foothill didn’t waste time at the plate in the finale.
Of its 14 hits on Wednesday, seven came on Crescenta Valley hurler Rebekah Charters’ first pitch and five were on her second offering.
Lousararian and Howard each had three hits, with Howard seeing a total of seven pitches in her five at-bats. Howard also drove in three runs. Georges contributed two hits — both on first pitches — and Kim had a pair of singles, both on a second pitch. Kim added two runs scored.
“They all like to swing at the first pitch,” Coach Fabian said. “They want to hit the ball and they want to hit the ball hard.”
Paige Baker led Crescenta Valley with a pair of runs and a run batted in. Mackenzie Holmquist also scored for Crescenta Valley.
“They played a great game,” Crescenta Valley Coach Chris Boone said. “We tried to fool them with slow pitching and changeups, but they’re a very seasoned and experienced team that’s been together for a few years. They’re a formidable opponent.”