Crescenta Valley crushes opposition

GLENDALE — As successful as they were in the opening game of the Junior Softball Southern California State Tournament, the members of the Section 2 champion Crescenta Valley team had no problem with playing two on Saturday.

As the day stretched on, the winning continued for the local Junior squad, which followed up a 14-0 win over Section 9 champion San Bernardino Reid Park with a 6-3 winner’s bracket victory over Section 8 champion Victorville later in the afternoon at King Street Field in District 33 La Mesa to clinch a spot in the semifinal game at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

“They played really well,” Crescenta Valley Manager Will Thayer said of his team. “I’ve never been part of such a fun softball game.”

Olivia Thayer limited Victorville to three unearned runs on six hits over seven innings in a game that turned on a bases-loaded double by Kendall Heurkins in the third inning.

Crescenta Valley led, 2-0, when Heurkins drove in three runs with one swing of the bat to provide a commanding 5-0 lead.

“It was a huge turning point,” Will Thayer said. “Olivia pitched a dynamite game.”

Thayer went two for four at the plate against Victorville, as did Whitney Craig. Rachel Bartamian was two for two and Taylor Hill also drove in a run for Crescenta Valley.

Reid Park was simply overwhelmed by a combined one hitter from Thayer, who started and pitched two innings, and Craig, who pitched the last three of the mercy-rule shortened game.

“The two of them really stepped up,” Will Thayer said.

An overflow of runs carried Crescenta Valley to a blowout, beginning with a two-run first inning keyed by doubles from Thayer (two for four with two runs batted in) and Hill (three for four).

Crescenta Valley began to pull away in the third inning with three more runs and broke it open in the fourth with seven runs.

Brady Sanford was three for three for Crescenta Valley and Tiffany Briscoe went two for four.

Heurkins, Torrie Johnson and Marissa Cornelius each went one for two against Reid Park.

Now, Crescenta Valley will enjoy a short break before facing either Section 4 champion Westchester or the Section 3 champion on Tuesday.

“If we play our game well,” Thayer said. “We should be able to handle either team.”