Crescenta Valley baseball falls into first-place tie
ARCADIA — Entering the final week of the Pacific League baseball season, Crescenta Valley High sat atop the standings with two games to go and the title in sight, one year removed from a string of three straight titles ending.
Looking to clinch at least a share of the title, the Falcons went on the road against second-place Arcadia.
On Tuesday evening, the visiting Falcons’ offense never really got off the ground as Arcadia pitcher Brett Porter was dominant in a 5-1 Apaches win, creating a three-way tie for first-place.
“We didn’t play very well and their kid pitched his butt off,” Crescenta Valley Coach Phil Torres said.
Porter went the distance on the mound for Arcadia to pick up his fourth Pacific League win of the season, striking out four and allowing four hits.
“He has been our most consistent pitcher all year,” Arcadia Coach Nick Lemas said. “I’m really proud of his performance to come out and beat a real good team like CV.”
The senior, using a drop-down sidearm delivery, stymied the Falcons and produced 13 groundball outs, which included four double plays, with one in the first inning, second, fifth and on the final play of the game.
“He induced four double plays so we had our chances,” Torres said. “[Porter] didn’t throw very hard and the ball was kind of sinking. We got stubborn and tried to pull the ball early in the game.”
The win for the Apaches means they are tied for first with Crescenta Valley and Burroughs. It keeps Arcadia in contention for its first league crown since 2011, with defending champion Burroughs in the mix by virtue of a 12-2 win over Burbank, also on Tuesday.
“It is going to be a dogfight like it always is,” Lemas said. “This rivalry, I don’t know anything like it in high school baseball. It is really fun.”
The Falcons can eliminate Arcadia (17-7-1, 11-2) with a win against the visiting Apaches on Friday, but another loss would give their rivals at least a share of the title or the outright crown depending on the result of the Burroughs (11-2 in league) at Burbank game on the same day.
Crescenta Valley (19-7, 11-2) has now won 16 of 18 overall, but saw its three-game winning streak ended.
“[It’s now] a one-game championship at our place and we’d have taken that when we started playing in January,” Torres said. “It is kind of what it is supposed to be: us and them at our place for the whole deal.”
The Falcons started Will Smiley on the mound Tuesday and the right-hander took the loss, going three innings and giving up six hits, and was responsible for all five runs.
Falcon Ryan Malloy had the only hit of the night against Porter going into the final inning before CV had three singles to open the frame. On the final play of the game, CV hit into a double play that scored a run before the final out was recorded at the plate.
CV entered the contest against Arcadia having posted shutouts in its last three league contests and eight overall in league play. On Tuesday, Arcadia would not be denied, scoring three runs in the second inning to give the hosts a lead they would never relinquish. Apaches freshman Jacob Lopez struck the biggest blow with a triple into the right field corner to drive in two of the three runs.
Arcadia catcher Mike Saenz was the only player to have two hits. He also drove in a run in the fourth with a sacrifice bunt.