Long ball leads CV to title victory

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — The Crescenta Valley and Burbank Little League teams were living by the long ball Tuesday in the District 16 Major Baseball championship game.

Eleven of the first 14 runs in the game came off of six home runs, as balls were being rocketed out of Babe Herman Field.

And that was just through four innings.

Although the teams split in the homer department, Crescenta Valley was able to score more runs off its dingers, as it downed Burbank, 8-6.

The win avenges a 5-3 Crescenta Valley loss Monday against the same Burbank squad.

“I had a feeling it was going to be a home-run fest,” Crescenta Valley Coach Todd Erickson said. “I felt it in my bones. These are two good teams with good hitters.”

Burbank Coach Jim Noud said he also expected a high-scoring game.

“That’s what I thought it was going to be,” he said. “I figured they would score at least eight runs, I was just hoping that we were going to be able to keep up with them.”

The win puts Crescenta Valley into the Section 2 Tournament, where it will play at 10 a.m. Saturday against the District 51 champion at Scholl Canyon Park.

Burbank put the pressure on early, as Aidan Anding led off the game with a single and was brought home on a two-run home run by Justin Lewis.

But Crescenta Valley quickly responded in its half of the first, as Jacob Martinez blasted a three-run home run, scoring Kyle Tavizon and Christian Castaneda.

Crescenta Valley added to its lead in the second on a two-run double by Mike Reilly.

After another two-run dinger by Lewis in the third, Anding was able to knot the score at 5 with a home run in the fourth inning.

But the champs fought back again in their portion of the inning, as Tavizon hit a two-run homer and Castaneda delivered a solo shot.

“I think it was those two homers that really gave us the momentum,” Erickson said.

“We have played Burbank three times in the tournament, and all three have been tough games. I take my hat off to them, they really came to play.”

Burbank tacked on a run in the fifth.

Tavizon was three for four with a home run, two runs batted in and two runs scored and Martinez was two for three with three RBI and two runs scored.