Foothill, which reached CIF finals last season, trying to make a late season push again

Vince Brown hopes to lead the Knights back into the CIF playoffs (File photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Foothill’s baseball team made a late push last season and wound up in the CIF Division 1 finals against Capistrano Valley.

Coach Vince Brown hopes that his squad, 14-8 overall and 2-1 in the Crestview League, can make another run this season and have a successful showing in the CIF playoffs.

Foothill, 25-8 a year ago, lost to Capo Valley 2-1 in the CIF finals at Cal State Fullerton.

The Knights resume league play Tuesday at El Modena.

“We have a dogfight the next three weeks to get that playoff spot,” Brown said.

Foothill has been hitting well this year, but the Knights have been plagued by wildness on the mound.

“This year’s team is hitting almost 30 points higher and every offensive statistic they are one of the best offensive teams I’ve ever coached,” Brown said. “But we’re giving up too many free bases and we’re having to score a lot of runs to win ball games.

“If our pitchers can build that confidence and trust in throwing strikes, we can make a good run. If we show up like we did today (a 7-5 loss to Esperanza), we’re going to struggle to make the playoffs. I think we’re a team that could make a good run in the playoffs because we will score some runs. We got to find a way to slow down the other team a little bit.”

Brown said he has confidence in his pitchers, but they’ve struggled to throw strikes.

“It’s been our problem the whole season,” he said. “Our pitchers are struggling taking their bullpen session to the mound. These pitchers are good pitchers. I’ve had guys who haven’t had as much talent and ability as these guys win a lot of games.

“They don’t have the confidence they need; they’re lacking the trust that they need to and we just keep hoping it will grow.”

The numbers tell it all. Last year, in 32 games, Foothill pitchers walked 74 and hit 15. Going into last week’s games, after 19 games, the staff had walked 74 and hit 33.

“We’re giving a lot of free bases,” Brown said. “I think if our pitchers will trust their teammates and put the ball in the zone and trust the process, we will be OK.”

Center fielder Kyle Ashworth, a Cal Poly San Luis Obispo commit, leads Foothill offensively.

“Ketch Gannon was really hot the last couple of weeks and brought himself up,” Brown said. “Ashworth is always our leader offensively.”

Foothill goes into the week tied for first place with El Dorado with a 2-1 record. Canyon and El Modena, both 1-2, follow in the standings.

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-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com