La Crescenta wins in eight
Sergei Aftandelian
LA CRESCENTA -- Rivalries are steamed and brewed over time.
La Crescenta, the District 4 representative, and La Canada, the
District 1 entry, relished the opportunity to face each other
Wednesday night in the second-chance bracket final of the Southern
California State Tournament at Dunsmore Park.
Both teams entertained their loyal fans with a nail-biting
baseball game to remember, as the La Crescenta Babe Ruth 14-year-old
All-Stars rallied for a 5-4 win against their intercity rival.
La Crescenta (3-1) advanced to the championship game at 5 p.m.
today against District 2 representative Torrance (2-0).
If La Crescenta wins, an if-necessary game would follow.
But La Crescenta didn’t survive without a little controversy.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, and the game tied at 4,
Jeremy Camacho doubled.
After an intentional walk to Brian King, a wild pitch advanced
the runners to second and third respectively.
After another intentional walk to Chris Ziegler loaded the bases,
the play that will forever link the teams together transpired.
The home-plate umpire called a balk on a 1-0 pitch from La Canada
pitcher David Hopkins, allowing Camacho to run home.
The umpire’s ruling was based on the fact that catcher Brian Clark
moved before the pitch was delivered, constituting a balk.
“It was a great game,” La Crescenta Coach Gilbert Camacho said.
“My boys never gave up.”
Said La Canada Coach Tim Trumbo: “It wasn’t the right way to win a
game.”