PHOTOS: Foothill captures CIF Division 4 championship with strong finish against Fullerton

Foothill’s baserunner Ally Storey (12) celebrates with teammate Julia Steinberg (15) after scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning. (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

The Foothill High School softball team scored five runs in the final two innings to erase a three-run deficit and went on to defeat Fullerton 5-3 to capture the CIF Division 4 championship Saturday afternoon at Deanna Manning Stadium.

It marked the Knights first CIF softball title since 2000. Fullerton was attempting to win its first championship since 1994.

“Foothill has great tradition and we wanted to get back to that tradition,” said Foothill Coach Jeff Wright. “We have won seven games this season after the sixth inning and I told the girls, ‘you can do this.’ The sixth and seventh innings are our favorite innings. Our success hasn’t been one player who drives us; it’s been everybody stepping up. This is a close knit group and they pull for each other.”

Lauren Mendez went the distance for Foothill (27-10). She gave up seven hits and walked only two batters and shut the Indians down over the final three innings to secure the win.

“I was shaken when they scored three runs in the fourth, but our girls kept yelling and I knew we could come back,” said Mendez, who improved her record to 23-9. “We never give up and I had so much trust in our team.”

Trailing 3-0 after five innings, Foothill rallied to score three times in the sixth inning to tie the score at 3-3.

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Foothill players and coaching staff pose with the CIF Division 4 Championship plaque.

Foothill's Julia Steinberg and teammates celebrate with the CIF championship plaque.

Foothill's pitcher Lauren Mendez shows emotion after receiving the Player of the Game ball following her team's 5-3 win.

Foothill's head coach Jeff Wright poses with the CIF championship plaque.

Foothill players hug after the final out of the game.

Fullerton principal Laura Rubio and head coach Trevor Holton receive the CIF Runner-Up plaque following Saturday's contest.

Alley Storey and teammate EvaMarie Penaloza celebrate after the final out of the game.

Foothill players rally after Saturday's CIF Championship win.

Foothill's second basemen Alley Storey throws a baserunner out on Saturday's Division 4 CIF Championship.

Foothill's Calista Maciel crosses the plate to score the insurance run for the Knights in the seventh inning of the game.

Fullerton's Melia Vera crosses the place during the Tribe's fourth inning scoring spree.

Foothill Knight's catcher Hannah Vargas flexes as she hits a triple for the Knights.

Foothill's Hannah Vargas jumps with excitement as she hit a two-out triple for the Knights.

Foothill Knight's catcher Hannah Vargas supports pitcher Lauren Mendez after getting out of jam.

Foothill's Alley Storey connects with the ball during Saturday's CIF title game.

Fullerton Shortstop Melia Vera throws out base Foothill base runner.

Fullerton third base Emma Thorson throws to first to complete an out.

Fullerton's Malay Majam-Finch swings at a pitch during Saturday's contest.

Foothill first baseman Abby Fryhoff steps on the bag to record an out.

Fullerton catcher Maiah Rodriguez gets her gear on in between innings.

Foothill's head coach Jeff Wright walks over to the dugout in between innings.

Fullerton's head coach Trevor Holton looks on during Saturday's game.

Fullerton players gather to congratulate pitcher Malaya Majam-Finch after getting out of a jam.

Foothill pitcher Lauren Mendez releases a pitch during the first inning of Saturday's CIF Division 4 title game.

Fullerton third base Emma Thorson fields a ground ball and throws to first to complete an out.

Fullerton pitcher Malaya Majam-Finch releases a throw during the first inning of Saturday's CIF Division 4 Championship game.

Fullerton players take the field during the first inning of Saturday's CIF Division 4 title game.

Foothill players are introduced prior to Saturday's CIF Division 4 title game.

Players from both teams stand during the playing of the National Anthem.

Foothill players pose as they head into the dugout prior to Saturdays CIF title contest.

Fullerton's second baseman Zoey Bautista throws out a runner as first base Hailee Nelson awaits.

Foothill's Alley Storey celebrates with teammate Hannah Vargas after scoring a run in the seventh inning.

Julia Steinberg led off the sixth by hitting a single and she went to second on an infield ground out. Steinberg scored on a throwing error to trim the Indians lead to 3-1. Abby Fryhoff followed with a single and then Eva Marie Penaloza drilled a two-run triple to right center to tie the score at 3-3.

“I was happy to help the team get going,” said Steinberg. “It’s so crazy that we are going to be able to hang a championship banner at our field.”

“I was nervous and had two strikes on me when I got that hit,” said Penaloza. “I could feel the adrenaline running through me after I hit it.”

The Knights then rallied again and scored twice in the seventh to put their stamp on the victory.

Alley Storey tripled to lead off the seventh inning for the Knights. One out later, Story’s speed paid dividends for Foothill. Steinberg grounded out to third. The Indians third baseman threw to first base to retire Steinberg, but Story broke for home and slid safely under Hailee Nelson’s throw to the plate.

“I knew I had to get a hit; I was freaking out,” said Story. “This is my first CIF championship and I’m so excited.“

Darian Rycroft then followed with a crucial insurance RBI single to up the Foothill lead to 5-3.

“I was thinking ‘this is it, I have to get that runner home; I have to come through,'” Rycroft said.

The Indians pounded out five hits and scored three runs with two outs in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie.

With two outs, Andrea Montes walked. Malaya Majam-Finch then doubled to left center and Montes stopped at third. Freshman Melia Vera followed by delivering a clutch two-run single to right, giving Fullerton a 2-0 lead. Two batters later, Maiah Rodriguez slashed a RBI single to left scoring Vera and upping the Indians lead to 3-0.

Finch (18-5), a freshman, whose ERA was 0.623 entering Saturday’s game, gave up nine hits, six in the last two innings. She struck out five and walked one, but the Indians committed three errors.

Despite the loss, Fullerton Coach Trevor Holton remained upbeat about his team (27-7).

“We started five freshmen today; it’s a hard lesson to learn, but we feel we’re going to be strong again next season,” said Holton. “It was a difficult speech to make to the girls after the game, but we’re going to learn from this and come back stronger. We have a dynamic freshmen class and we’ve changed the culture here. When we got here two years ago we were 5-18.”

Foothill reached the finals by defeating Arroyo, Highland, Schurr and Santa Fe, while the Indians beat San Jacinto, Summit, Long Beach Poly and Burroughs in the previous rounds of the playoffs.

—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone