SANTA ANA – Foothill needed to beat Villa Park twice this week to win the Crestview League baseball championship.
The Knights did it. They completed the two-game league sweep Thursday with a 7-4 win over the Spartans at Foothill High in the final regular-season game for both teams.
Foothill’s Andrew Parker, left, celebrates in the dugout with teammates after hitting a solo home run against Villa Park in the fourth inning in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Cameron Kessel, center, and Andrew Parker, right, hug as they celebrate winning the Crestview League title over Villa Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park shortstop Gavin Grahovac, left, leaves the ball behind as he attempts to tag Foothill’s Austin Overn, right, on a steal attempt in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill starting pitcher Brady Schrank delivers pitch against Villa Park in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Brett Castillo, right, celebrates with Pedro Hernandez, left, after hitting a home run in the first inning against Villa Park in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Andrew Parker, center, celebrates in the dugout with teammates after hitting solo home run in the fourth inning against Villa Park in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park outfielder Gavin Rossi bobbles the ball but recovers to make the catch just in foul territory against Foothill in the fourth inning in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Austin Overn, right, is safe at third as Villa Park’s Justin Tims, left, allows the ball to get away from him in the sixth inning in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. Overn was able to score on the play. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Austin Overn, right, slides past Villa Park catcher Jack Burke, left, to score after the ball got away from the third baseman in the sixth inning in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Austin Overn scores in the sixth inning after the ball got away from Villa Park’s third baseman in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Austin Overn comes up celebrating after sliding into home to score in the sixth inning against Villa Park in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park starting pitcher AJ Krodel delivers a pitch against Foothill in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Austin Overn, left, gets caught in a run down and is tagged out by Villa Park third baseman Justin Tims, right, in the second inning in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill center fielder Austin Overn allows the ball to bounce off his glove on a drive by Villa Park in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Foothill’s Andrew Parker heads for home after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning against Villa Park in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park’s Britton Beeson heads for home to score against Foothill in the first inning in the title baseball game of the Crestview League in Santa Ana on Thursday, April 28, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Villa Park was in first place by one game coming into this week. The Spartans had plenty of wind at their backs, too, having last week won the championship of the prestigious Boras Classic South. In that tournament, Foothill went 3-1 and won the consolation championship.
Foothill beat Villa Park 4-1 on Tuesday at Villa Park to place the Knights in a first-place tie with the Spartans.
Thursday’s win made Foothill the league champion with a 7-2 league record. Villa Park was 6-3 in league including a 7-5 win over Foothill in March.
The next game for both teams will be in the CIF Southern Section playoffs next week.
“It’s a great feeling, to come out and handle business and win two games,” said Foothill senior Brady Schrank. “But the job’s not finished. We still have CIF ahead.”
CIF-SS playoff brackets will be released Monday. Foothill (19-9 overall) and Villa Park (24-4) will be in the 32-team Division 1 bracket.
Foothill senior center fielder Austin Overn was 3 for 3 on Thursday with a home run, a double, a single, three stolen bases, two runs scored and a walk. He also made a diving, back-handed catch of a deep fly ball to save a run in the sixth inning.
Brett Castillo hit a two-run home run for the Knights, and Andrew Parker hit a solo home run. Schrank, who started on the mound, gave up four runs in the first inning, two of them were unearned, then shut out Villa Park over the next four innings.
Gavin Grahovac led off with a single, stole second base and then Zach Brown walked. Overn misplayed Jack Burke’s fly ball in center – he would more than make up for that – and Grahovac scored on the play. Brown and Burke scored on a single by Britton Beeson, and Beeson scored on a double by Josh Santagelo for the fourth run.
Overn led off the bottom of the first with a home run. Schrank drove in Garrett Davidson with a sacrifice fly, Aiden Taurek scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-3 and Castillo gave the Knights the lead with a two-run home run.
Foothill added a run in the fourth on Parker’s homer. Overn led off the sixth with a double. He stole third base and scored when a throw found its way into left field.
Villa Park won the Crestview League championship last season when Foothill finished third in the four-team league. The 2020 season was canceled because of COVID. Foothill won the Crestview League championship in 2019 when Villa Park was in the North Hills League and won that league’s championship.
