Crescenta Valley 9-10s win nailbiter over Burbank for District 16 title
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MONTROSE — A tightly contested game that went down to the final at-bat concluded the District 16 9-10 All-Star Tournament on Sunday at Montrose Park.
The third and final meeting of the series between Crescenta Valley and Burbank included seven total runs, with only two being earned and both in Crescenta Valley’s favor as it didn’t falter with situational hitting over the final two innings.
A throwing error from Burbank in the top of the sixth proved to be crucial, as Brady Scheu was able to score on Hank Norman’s groundout. Scheu led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on the error.
PHOTOS: CV All-Stars gets past Burbank, 4-3
It would serve as the game-winning run in a 4-3 victory for a Crescenta Valley team that will advance to the Section 2 Tournament.
The District 16 champion will open up Section 2 play Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Arcadia National Little League against District 40 champion Encino.
Burbank had the game-tying runner on base and the game-winning run at the plate in the bottom half of the inning, but it was not to be, despite solid pitching and a strong mentality to come just short of winning the title one day after being trounced, 15-1.
“They were smart to come back with the one pitcher we couldn’t hit,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Peter Pravikoff of Burbank’s starter Justin Burras, who didn’t allow an earned run in 3 2/3 innings. “Our bats struggled early and weren’t the same bats [from Saturday]. But we didn’t give up, kept our heads in it and found other ways to win.”
Defense clinched the victory, but it was not there for either team throughout the contest, as they combined for a plethora of errors. Burbank capitalized on Crescenta Valley errors in the first and second innings to score a run in each frame and take a 2-0 lead after two.
Nicolo Terenzi’s infield single in the third inning resulted in Crescenta Valley’s first run as Ethan McCloskey was able to score on an error to cut Burbank’s lead in half, 2-1. McCloskey, the team’s clean-up hitter, doubled, advanced to third on the single and then home on the fielding mishap.
Putting the ball in play proved wondrous for Crescenta Valley again in the fourth. Holden Deitch’s grounder eventually turned into two outs for Burbank but also a run for Crescenta Valley, with Trent Carey scoring from second to tie the game.
Diego Pravikoff picked up the first RBI of the ballgame, as his groundout allowed McCloskey to trot home in the fifth inning and give Crescenta Valley its first lead of the game.
Burbank answered with a run in the fifth. Zack Levy led off the inning with an infield hit and advanced to second on an error. Nick Magoon executed a perfect bunt to advance the runner to third. No. 2 hitter Trevor Malden put the ball in play and Crescenta Valley’s seventh error resulted in another run.
Crescenta Valley would take the lead again in the sixth inning on Norman’s grounder and this time it would not be relinquished.
Despite the subpar defense, both teams received a fine pitching performance. Caden Feehan and Scheu each gave Crescenta Valley three solid innings, combining to allow three hits and no earned runs.
Burbank’s Zack Freck relieved Burras and pitched 2 1/3 innings of two-hit ball, walking one.
“Caden was not at his absolute best and I hate to say that because he pitched two days in a row,” Peter Pravikoff said. “He’s a fighter, not allowing an earned run even though he wasn’t feeling his best. Brady came in in a clutch situation and pitched lights out.”
Sunday’s game resembled the first game of the series, in which Burbank prevailed, 2-1, rather than Saturday’s blowout. Burbank Coach Limbert Caballos said his team would forget about Saturday’s game and they did.
“They showed up,” Caballos said. “The score speaks for itself. We played hard, came here ready to win, but a couple errors cost us the game.”
Crescenta Valley will look to continue its success in the Section 2 Tournament.
“I’m super happy with these guys,” Peter Pravikoff said of Sunday’s win. “They didn’t give up, believed in each other. Burbank was a fine opponent. They came back and played great baseball.”