Glendale/La Crescenta 15s stay alive with win over Heartwell

Buoyed by a key three-run, pinch-hit home run from Steven Knezevich, the La Crescenta/Glendale 15-and-under Babe Ruth All-Stars lived to played another game.

Glendale defeated Heartwell of Long Beach, 9-5, on Sunday afternoon at Stevenson Field in El Segundo, with Knezevich blasting a two-out home run in the bottom of the third to break a 3-3 tie.

“That was the big hit,” said Glendale Manager Eric Mahoney.

There were plenty of contributors offensively, though, as Frankie Campanella, Sean Holt and Orlando Diez combined to go five for 11 with four runs batted in and four runs scored. Sam Rodriguez was also two for two with two runs.

“We were real happy,” said Mahoney of his team’s performance. “Heartwell had a good team.”
On the mound, Thomas Keller allowed three runs over three innings, Vincent Mahoney allowed two over three and Rodriguez closed the game out with a scoreless seventh.

Heartwell jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but the locals responded with three of their own for a 3-2 advantage after one complete. After Heartwell tied it in the top of the third, Knezevich emphatically untied it was his 330-foot blast.

Glendale returns to action with one more win Monday at 5:30 p.m. against El Segundo needed to make it to Tuesday’s championship game. Sunday’s game saw Glendale bounce back after opening the tournament on Saturday with a loss to Torrance, 2-1.