Peter Samore
SCHOLL CANYON PARK -- Every time the Crescenta Valley 9- and
10-year-old softball all-stars grabbed a lead Monday, Foothill-Tujunga
came back to match it.
The pattern continued until the sixth inning, when Foothill-Tujunga
matched only one of CV's last two runs, as CV went on to win the Little
League District 16 second-chance game, 6-5, at Scholl Canyon Park.
CV (2-1) now plays Jewel City-Jewish War Veterans in the tournament
championship at 6 p.m. today at Scholl Canyon Field No. 2.
CV's Tara Thomas and Foothill-Tujunga's Melody McClure pitched
complete games in the fight to play today. Thomas struck out five batters
and McClure struck out seven.
Both pitchers gave more than they were expected to. Thomas did not
pitch all year until this tournament, in which she pitched three innings
prior to Monday's start.
McClure pitched her first complete game of the year.
"Tara pitched a terrific game, even though her first pitching
experience came in the tournament," CV Coach Dave Reid said.
Foothill-Tujunga (0-2) gave up three first-inning runs but would not
let that ruin the game. It would brake down CV's 3-0 lead with two runs
in the first and McClure's run scored in the second to tie the score at
3.
With the score tied at 4 in the sixth, CV's Emily Heinemann tripled to
center field and scored Carina Matosian. Heinemann scored on a fielding
error to give CV a 6-4 lead.
However, Foothill-Tujunga wasn't finished. Michelle Poet helped
manufacture a run by singling, stealing second, taking third on a passed
ball and scoring on Natalie Diaz's sacrifice squeeze but to bring the
score to 6-5.
Though Foothill-Tujunga's season came to an end four batters later,
Coach Ron DePompa could not have asked for a better game.
"The whole game was intense," DePompa said. "The girls played with
heart and courage. It was a pleasure working with them and I couldn't
have asked for more."
BOX SCORE
CV 300 102 -- 6 6 0
Fthl-Tuj 210 101 -- 5 3 4
CV IP R ER H BB K
Thomas 6 5 5 3 13 5
Fthl-Tuj IP R ER H BB K
McClure 6 6 5 6 8 7
WP-Thomas (1-0) LP-McClure (0-1)
3B: C-Heinemann; F-Poet
SB: C-Webb, Denny; F-Diaz 2, Bishop, McClure, Poet
