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  • Foothill relief pitcher Trent Etchandy (22) slaps gloves with teammate...

    Foothill relief pitcher Trent Etchandy (22) slaps gloves with teammate Dylan Doherty after Doherty caught a line drive at shortstop to end the inning and the game giving Foothill an, 8-7, win over Esperanza on Friday at Esperanza High in Anaheim. Randell Kanemaru (13) looks on.

  • Esperanza's Tristan Hildebrandt points to the sky as he approaches...

    Esperanza's Tristan Hildebrandt points to the sky as he approaches home plate after hitting a two-run homer in the first inning against Foothill on Friday at Esperanza High in Anaheim.

  • Foothill second baseman Michael Nava chased, and dived, but couldn't...

    Foothill second baseman Michael Nava chased, and dived, but couldn't get to a between-the-gap grounder during Friday's game against Esperanza at Esperanza High in Anaheim. .

  • Esperanza catcher Eric Bigani was unable to hold on to...

    Esperanza catcher Eric Bigani was unable to hold on to the ball as Foothill's Dylan Doherty tagged-up from third base on a fly ball to left field during the first half of Friday's game at Esperanza High in Anaheim.

  • Foothill's Alex Diaz, right, is greeted by teammate Randell Kanemaru...

    Foothill's Alex Diaz, right, is greeted by teammate Randell Kanemaru at home plate after hitting his first home run in the third inning of Friday's game against Esperanza at Esperanza High in Anaheim.

  • Dominic Potlongo got the start at pitcher for Esperanza against...

    Dominic Potlongo got the start at pitcher for Esperanza against Foothill on Friday at Esperanza High in Anaheim.

  • Esperanza relief pitcher Tyler Domene attempts to pick-off Foothill base...

    Esperanza relief pitcher Tyler Domene attempts to pick-off Foothill base runner Dylan Doherty on a throw to first baseman Harrison Pyatt during Friday's game at Esperanza High in Anaheim.

  • Foothill's Hudson Hughes watches his single fly to right field...

    Foothill's Hudson Hughes watches his single fly to right field during the third inning of Friday's game against Esperanza at Esperanza High in Anaheim.

  • Esperanza second baseman Hadon Nix is unable to field a...

    Esperanza second baseman Hadon Nix is unable to field a tricky grounder, which allows a Foothill base runner to score during the seventh inning of Friday's game at Esperanza High in Anaheim.

  • Esperanza fans watch the action from the visiting team's bullpen...

    Esperanza fans watch the action from the visiting team's bullpen during Friday's game against Foothill at Esperanza High in Anaheim.

  • Esperanza fans take a break from the action of Friday's...

    Esperanza fans take a break from the action of Friday's game against Foothill at Esperanza High in Anaheim.

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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