Olson Passes Test to Help Strike Out Notre Dame, 4-2

The ultimate test for any ambitious young pitcher is facing a top hitter in a bases-loaded jam with nothing more than the entire season on the line.

Jordan Olson, Crescenta Valley High’s junior left-hander, stood on the mound Friday night in the top of the fifth inning with his team clinging to a one-run advantage. The bases were loaded with one out and 6-foot-4 shortstop John Puccinelli of Notre Dame at the plate.

Risking everything, Olson challenged Puccinelli with a series of fastballs. On a 1-2 count, he threw a fastball inside for a called third strike. To see Puccinelli go down was a devastating moment for Notre Dame. The next batter, Matt Cunningham, grounded out, and Olson had engineered his great escape.

Crescenta Valley (21-3-1) went on to secure a 4-2 victory over the Knights (14-12-1) in a Southern Section Division I playoff opener at Stengel Field. The Falcons will face Royal in the second round Tuesday.

Falcon Coach Phil Torres eagerly awaited the chance to host a night playoff game, and what a crowd the game drew. More than 700 people filled Stengel Field, the largest attendance for a local baseball game this season.

Crescenta Valley, the Pacific League champion, started six underclassmen.

“My young guys were hyperventilating before the game,” Torres said.

Olson (8-1) was a surprise starter considering senior Josh Herman (8-1) was more experienced. But Olson, the region leader with an 0.90 earned-run average, allowed two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings. Herman retired all five batters he faced for the save, striking out the side in the seventh.

Herman praised Olson for handling the pressure-packed fifth inning and striking out Puccinelli.

“That was huge of him,” Herman said. “I think that showed his maturity.”

Added Olson, “I knew if I didn’t throw the right pitch or the right location, he’d hit it. I had to get it by him.”

Crescenta Valley came back to score two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a run-scoring triple by Nathan Barber and an RBI single by Tim Balkey.

Notre Dame threatened in the sixth. Ryan Stonerock and Alec Moss singled to start the inning. But Stonerock was picked off second by catcher Luke Peterson. Kevin Jerkens followed with an RBI double. In came Herman, who struck out Brendan Ryan and got Jon Brewster to fly out.

The Falcons were not thrilled in drawing Notre Dame as their playoff opener. Last year, Crescenta Valley won the Pacific League title and lost to Mission League champion Crespi in the first round. Notre Dame, like Crespi, is used to big games. The Knights upset Marmonte League champion Camarillo in last year’s opening round and owned a victory over City power Chatsworth this season.

But Notre Dame has been an underachiever, and Friday’s performance was no exception. Starting pitcher Phil Polanco did not follow the most important requirement of a playoff pitcher--throw strikes. He walked four batters in the first inning, including two with the bases loaded, as the Falcons took a 2-0 lead.