Crescenta Valley Holds Ace in the Hole

Crescenta Valley High played its seventh game of the season Friday night, and Melinda Moulden still hasn’t stepped into the pitcher’s circle.

Truth is, she may never throw a pitch this season.

That makes her perhaps the best softball pitcher in the region who doesn’t pitch for her high school team.

“It’s a choice I made for the benefit of the team,” said Moulden, an Amateur Softball Assn. All-American pitcher who is headed to Michigan on scholarship.

Before the high school season, Moulden told Coach Dan Berry she would be ready if needed, but that she was stepping aside in favor of sophomore right-hander Meredith Cervenka, who did the lion’s share of the pitching for Crescenta Valley last season.

Cervenka (4-3) proved again she is capable of filling the role, throwing a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts to help the Falcons defeat Lancaster, 3-0, in a first-round game of the High Desert tournament Friday at Lancaster City Park.

Lancaster fell to 1-4.

Moulden, however, is just as effective. Perhaps even more so, given her experience.

As a sophomore, Moulden allowed only 10 walks, eight earned runs and 71 hits in 162 innings. It was her only season as the Falcons’ ace. Danielle Ferreira, who went to Cal State Fullerton on scholarship, was the only pitcher used during Moulden’s freshman year.

Last season, Moulden and newcomer Cervenka were splitting time in nonleague games. But Cervenka pitched exclusively when Pacific League play started.

At the time, Berry explained to Moulden, who plays third base and shortstop, that she was a better hitter when she wasn’t pitching, Moulden said. Moreover, Cervenka was a better hitter when she was pitching.

Moulden, a .387 career hitter, has never appeared to have a problem at the plate. She has led the team in runs batted in the last three years and in batting average the last two.

Her best season was as a sophomore, when she was the Falcons’ ace and batted a team-best .403 with 19 RBIs.

Cervenka does not play any position other than pitcher. Partly because of that, Berry said, Cervenka in the circle and Moulden in the field makes Crescenta Valley much tougher.

Still, Berry’s decision to go exclusively with Cervenka at pitcher was a blow for Moulden, who got the bulk of the tough starts last season and finished 6-5 with an 0.48 earned-run average.

Moulden, who was recruited as a pitcher and utility player by Michigan, decided she didn’t want a repeat of last season.

“I didn’t want any tension,” Moulden said. “For my senior year, my choice was to not pitch and just have fun.”

Moulden appears to be doing that. Against Lancaster, Moulden was high-fiving teammates, sharing laughs and leading cheers from the dugout. Smiling all the while.

Moulden’s maturity on a potentially touchy subject has not been lost on Berry.

“Did you see how happy Melinda was out there tonight?” Berry asked. “The leadership that she gives us is outstanding. My hat is off to Melinda for being able to handle it and do what she needs to do for the team.”

But don’t be surprised if Moulden makes a pitching appearance. She is Berry’s proverbial ace in the hole.

“Melinda is ready to pitch,” Berry said. “She may pitch [today], she may pitch next week . . . or she may not.”