Beavers Fall In First Vegas Tilt, 8-2 To Foothill

The Beavers hit the ball early and late, but the Foothill High School Falcons hit early and often, beating Beaverton 8 - 2 this afternoon.

Beaverton started off well, threatening in the top of the 1st. With one out, freshman Megan John singled to left field. Sophomore Willow Martinson then doubled to left center, moving John to third. Kayla Lauro then chopped a 1-1 pitch towards third. The Falcon third baseman looked John back, then threw to first to get Lauro. On the throw, John took off for home, but was thrown out at the plate ending the Beaver threat.

Foothill answered in the bottom of the first, scoring two runs as the first four batters hit safely. Megen Ickler (1-1), then struck out 3 of the next 4, ending the inning with minimum damage.
Foothill, however, would score 2 in the 2nd and 3 in the third, opening up a 7-0 lead after four innings. Beaverton couldn't muster much offense, going three-and-out twice and getting a single hit in these three innings - a single from Martinson - in the fourth.

The Beavers threatened to get into the game in the fifth, as Senior Caitlin Ellerbe led off with a solid single to right center field. Sam White followed with a popup to the infield that was misplayed, giving the Beavers runners on first and second with no outs. Ruby LaFollette sacrified Ellerbe and White to third and second. Senior Maddie Evans followed with a roller to third. Although there was no force play, Ellerbe charged home and was tagged out. The Beaver threat ended with Junior Hannah Johnson ripping a shot the first baseman snared with a diving stab.

The Beavers were back again in the sixth. With one out, Martinson (who went 3-3 with two doubles) crushed a towering drive to the left center field fence. Lauro then plated pinch runner Gracie Coburn with another double, this time to right center. Lauro scored when Ickler smacked the Beavers' third double in a row. A strikeout and groundout to first ended the inning with the Beavers now down 7 - 2.

Foothill added one more run in the bottom of the sixth, and the Beavers went three-and-out in the top of the 7th to end the game behind 8 - 2.

Sophomore Molly Tyler came on in relief of Ickler in the 4th, and threw three innings of one-hit ball, giving up one run.

Foothill is six-year-0ld high school that boasts a student body of 4,500 - almost twice as many as the largest Oregon high schools. The Beavers continue games in Las Vegas tomorrow afternoon against Desert Oasis HS.