Crespi Overcomes Shaky Start : Spears Recovers Poise in 5-2 Win Over Crescenta Valley

Crespi and Crescenta Valley resembled anything but championship-caliber teams in the first inning of Friday’s Southern Section 4-A playoff game at Valley College.

The initial inning featured two errors by each team, two misplayed bunts by the Crespi defense, a batter’s interference call against Crespi and two unearned runs each.

But Crespi left-hander Chris Spears regained his poise after a shaky start and did not allow a runner to reach second base the rest of the way as Crespi prevailed, 5-2.

The win moves Crespi, the top-ranked team in The Times Valley Poll at 20-5, into the second round against Mater Dei, a 7-3 winner over Palos Verdes on Friday.

“It must have been something,” Crespi Coach Scott Muckey said when asked whether his ballclub had the jitters at the start of the game. “Actually, I thought we were a bit on the nervous side in the pregame warm-ups.”

Crespi wasted no time in confirming Muckey’s suspicions. First baseman Matt Arnold booted a ground ball by Crescenta Valley leadoff hitter Victor Ramirez. Chris Tavizon then bunted a one-hopper back to Spears, who wheeled and threw the ball into center field.

“I’m usually a pretty good defensive fielder,” Spears said. “I throw well to first, but I’m always a bit nervous about throwing to second base. As soon as I threw it I knew where it was going.”

Adding to Crespi’s frustrating start was a subsequent bunt hit in front of home plate by Scott Rhodes.

To his credit, Spears got out of the inning rather cheaply. Two runs scored on successive force plays at second and Spears struck out Kirk Straight to end the inning.

Then it was Crescenta Valley’s turn to feel the butterflies of playoff competition. Crespi’s Chris Greenamyer brought the Celts to life with a leadoff single. After stealing second, Greenamyer scored on Dave Cameron’s single to right, making it 2-1.

With Arnold at bat, Cameron attempted to steal, but Arnold was called out for interfering with catcher Mike Cho’s throw. Cameron then stole second with Joe Testa at the plate and went to third as Cho’s throw bounced into center field.

After Testa walked, Paul Fell hit what looked like a routine double-play grounder, but second baseman Steve Cho booted it, allowing Cameron to score the tying run and moving Testa to third. Testa then scored on a squeeze bunt by Pat Murphy for a 3-2 Crespi lead.

Spears (9-2) was given second-inning insurance runs on a two-run single by Testa, the last of four Crespi hits.

Spears threw 96 pitches. He allowed four hits, walked one and struck out nine.