ANAHEIM – When Esperanza’s Sammy Jones smacked a curling line drive toward Foothill shortstop Dylan Doherty, Knights coach Vince Brown didn’t think he could get up high enough to get it.
“Our middle infield is vertically challenged,” Brown said. “I was jumping hoping I could help him get there.”
Doherty didn’t need any help to get there, and it came at a crucial moment as Foothill was nursing a one-run lead over Esperanza with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Doherty’s leaping snag sealed a Century League win for Foothill over No.7 Esperanza, 8-7, on Friday at Esperanza High.
Brown said Friday was just another day in the life of a Century League baseball team.
“I don’t think we’re just going to walk away with anything,” Brown said. “We’re going to have to battle for everything and our group of kids are just figuring out how to battle.”
That battle came down to the final inning. The teams were tied, 7-7, in the top of the seventh before a two-out, slow roller from Doherty took a tough hop on Esperanza second baseman Haydon Nix.
The ball got away from Nix and Foothill’s Trent Etchandy who doubled to lead off the frame, scored the eventual game-winning run.
Foothill (7-6, 6-2) also beat Esperanza (10-4, 4-4) on Wednesday and Brown said it was good to see his team bounce back after a tough loss to Brea Olinda on Tuesday.
“We gave up three runs in the bottom of the seventh (on Tuesday),” Brown said. “I was worried about it crushing the guys. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
The Aztecs got an early boost from their shortstop, Cal State Fullerton commit Tristan Hildebrandt.
The senior hit a two-run home run in the first inning to give Esperanza a 2-1 lead.
Esperanza added another run in the second, before Foothill center fielder Alex Diaz hit a solo home run of his own in the third to bring the Knights to within one, 3-2.
Esperanza added two more in the bottom of the third to take a 5-2 lead.
After a scoreless fourth for both sides, Foothill tried to break things open with a five-run fifth inning capped by Diaz’s second home run of the day – and third of the week – to put the Knights ahead, 7-5, before the wild final two innings.
Diaz did a little bit of everything for the Knights, going 4 for 5 with two home runs, two singles, three RBI and two runs scored.
“I’m just feeling it,” he said. “I’m seeing the ball really well. My confidence was lacking and I just picked myself up.”
Hildebrandt went 2 for 3 with two RBI and three runs scored for Esperanza.
Contact the writer: dugland@ocregister.com