Christine Foster is exhibit A on why records can be deceiving.

Heading into Wednesday's game at Suburban Lakes League rival Genoa, Foster, a senior pitcher at Eastwood, had a 50-23 career record. She finished with a modest 13-4 record last season yet had a sparkling 1.16 ERA en route to earning honorable mention All-Ohio honors.

This year Foster boasts a 10-8 record with – get this – a 0.92 ERA in 121 2/3 innings, with 122 strikeouts and 30 walks.

Foster pitched brilliantly yet lost to Lakota, 1-0, in the Division III sectional tournament last Saturday, and she lost 1-0 to Elmwood on Monday. Eastwood (10-11, 3-3 SLL) also suffered a 2-0 loss to Lake on May 2.

After surviving a scary injury early in her career, Eastwood pitcher, Christine Foster won her 50th career game. (Submitted photo)

To her credit, Foster has maintained her composure and a positive attitude with her teammates despite getting little run support. The Eagles have lost nine games this season by either one or two runs, and they have been shut out six times.

“Christine knew we were going to be young and she was going to have to be a leader and have patience, knowing there were going to be mistakes behind her and a lack of consistent hitting,” Eastwood coach Joe Wyant said. “She's handled it perfectly. I could have not asked for a better leader, or a better person, than what she is.

“She made the young kids feel welcome. Even if they make mistakes, she goes out and pats them on the back and totally encourages them all the time. As much success as she's had in the past and the good teams we've had, it's tough to find an individual who can understand that part of the game, too. She's a great kid, bottom line.”

Foster and first baseman Amanda Selhorst are the Eagles' lone seniors. Eastwood's starting lineup includes two juniors, five sophomores and one freshman (third baseman Cassidy Rolf), and its bench consists of one freshman and one sophomore.

“It's been pretty frustrating, but you know what to expect with a young team,” Foster said. “We're not as experienced as in past years, but they've worked really hard and that's all I can ask for. I get texts after games from teammates saying 'sorry we couldn't help you out,' but I know they're there for me and they're trying. That's all I can ask for. I could have helped myself out (Monday) night. I struck out twice, and that didn't help.

“I can't compliment our defense enough. They've worked so hard and I'm really proud of them. This defense is really good. They made my senior year a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.”

Foster said Wyant informed her last Thursday that she was one win shy of her 50th career win. She then went out and pitched the Eagles to a 5-1 victory over visiting Gibsonburg on Friday.

“I wasn't expecting it,” Foster said of reaching No. 50. “I wasn't really aiming for that, but it's kind of exciting. I was also happy because I thought, I've had a lot of great defenses behind me. It wasn't just me.”

Foster had a 9-6 record as a freshman in 2008, then went 18-5 two years ago and 13-4 last season. She has beaten SLL rival Woodmore five times in her career, including twice this season. Eastwood beat the Wildcats 3-1 on April 13 and 7-2 on May 4.

“She owns us,” Woodmore coach Aaron Clouse said after last week's loss to the Eagles. “We beat her when she was a freshman and we haven't beaten her since. She gets ahead in the count – every batter is 0-1 or 0-2 - and once she's up, she does a great job of hitting corners. Once she's up, she makes us get in defensive swings and we're always struggling to stay alive. She's not going to walk you, you have to earn it. If she does get behind in the count, she will challenge you. She's not scared. She's a heck of a competitor.”

Foster is beginning to raise her batting average after a sluggish start at the plate. She's currently hitting around .260.

“When she hits it, she hits it hard,” Wyant said. “Pitching is her forte. That's what she's going to college for.”

Foster, 17, signed to pitch at Heidelberg University following her visit there on Feb. 19-20.

“I really liked the coach and the team, and the school seemed to fit me well,” she said. “Their No. 1 program there is business and that's what I'm going to major in. I'm looking at being a financial adviser and following in the footsteps of my dad (Michael).”

Foster will pitch the final game of her prep career later this month, but Eastwood's opponents haven't seen the last of the Foster family. Christine's younger sister, Whitney (0-3), is a sophomore pitcher who had shoulder surgery prior to this season.

“She got a late start and she's still not throwing 100 percent,” Wyant said. “She's pretty good, not that far behind Christine.”

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed