PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Jordan Olson carried his team on his back.

Only figuratively, of course.

Although the Crescenta Valley High left-hander suffered from lower-back spasms throughout the postseason, he pitched the Falcons to semifinal and championship-game victories in the Southern Section Division I playoffs.

He finished with an 11-1 record, an 0.92 earned-run average and a dominating strikeout (102) to walk (21) ratio.

In the Falcons’ final two playoff games, which gave them their first section title, Olson struck out 14, walked two, allowed eight hits and surrendered only one run in 10 innings.

Olson was particularly masterful in a 7-1 championship-game victory over Esperanza, striking out eight and allowing only three hits and one run in 4 2/3 innings for Crescenta Valley (25-3-1).

Not bad for someone who could barely bend over to pick up groundballs.