ROSS HELPS HERSELF VALENCIA STAR HAS TIMELY HIT VALENCIA 5, SAUGUS 0.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne  Staff Writer

SAUGUS - Christina Ross has lost four games this season. Or rather, her team has lost four games in which she's pitched, but it hardly seems fair to credit her with a loss.

In three of the losses, Valencia was shut out, but Ross took the loss despite throwing a no-hitter, a three-hitter and a four-hitter and allowing no earned runs.

So on Tuesday, in what had the makings of yet another pitchers' duel with Saugus' Kyla Sullivan in the circle, Ross took matters into her own hands by driving in Valencia's first two runs in a 5-0 victory over Saugus.

``I'm glad I got the opportunity to go in and prove myself,'' said Ross, who struck out four and gave up six hits. ``I kept bugging (coach Donna Lee) to give me a chance to hit because no one else was getting the job done. So it's nice to go out and help my cause. It definitely took a little of the pressure off when I was pitching.''

Ross drove in sophomore Danielle Maricle with a ground ball to second base with one out in the top of the third inning to stake the Vikings to a 1-0 lead on their way to a critical Foothill League victory that kept Valencia in contention for the league title.

Ross again drove in Maricle in the fourth with a single to center field. And the Vikings (15-4, 4-1) broke the game open in the sixth when Roni La Val stroked a two-run triple to left and Kristen Aidem followed with an RBI single to right center.

Maricle was 2 for 2 with a double and a tripled. It was a a breakout game for the sophomore left fielder, who plays travel softball for the Orange County Batbusters, the two-time defending national champions.

``I was able to block everything out today,'' said Maricle, who has a 4.2 GPA. ``My coaches are always saying, `Don't think, just hit.' And today I was able to do that.''

Valencia's victory on Tuesday keeps it one game back of first-place Hart, whom the Vikings will host Thursday at 3:15 p.m. It also broke a second-place tie with Saugus (15-5, 3-2).

``It's disappointing because there are three really good teams in this league and somebody is going to have to finish third. Hopefully it's not us,'' Saugus sophomore Tiffany Huff said. ``We didn't play our best today, but I have to give them credit. They did really well and hit the ball well.''

Saugus freshman Tiffany Huff was 2 for 4. She was the only Centurion with multiple hits.

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Kyla Sullivan and her Saugus teammates were no match for Valencia, which posted a 5-0 win.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News