Belanger leads Foothill to softball win

Even as a senior on Foothill's softball team, Danielle Belanger has to fight for playing time.

Six freshmen are all making a case for being in the lineup and pushing Belanger and some of her classmates for starting positions.

Belanger assisted her own cause and helped her team to a big Southeast League win Wednesday, hitting a pair of RBI singles in a 4-0 home win over Green Valley.

"We figured she would be a starter for us, but the freshmen are putting some pressure on her. She stepped up today," said Foothill coach Tom Mayes. "She got a couple of good hits. It definitely helped her."

Hitting eighth in the Falcons' lineup Wednesday, Belanger laced a bases-loaded single with one out in the fourth inning, scoring Kylee Taylor to give Foothill a 2-0 lead. The left fielder added a two-out single in the sixth, again chasing home Taylor, to finish the scoring.

"It's a big boost," said Belanger, who finished 2-for-3. "It felt good to be out there."

The Falcons graduated state player of the year Shelbie Medrano and five other seniors after qualifying for the state tournament last year.

With the six freshmen and two sophomores on this year's roster, it figured to be a reloading season for Foothill. Instead, the Falcons are 8-2 overall and 2-0 in the Southeast.

Senior center fielder Jennifer James tripled and scored Foothill's first run in the third inning. The Falcons took advantage of a throwing error to score another run in the fourth.

Sophomore Alex Petrolia pitched a six-hitter and struck out three, and Foothill played errorless defense behind her.

Ali Bodnar and Alicia Firelein each had two hits for the Gators (5-2, 1-1).

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.