Locals win going away

GLENDALE — By the time the Crescenta Valley 9-10 All-Star softball team finished batting in the first inning, the nerves had completely vanished.

After Crescenta Valley sent 12 batters to the plate in the opening frame, each player had gotten a taste of what it’s like to compete in the Southern California State Championships Tournament.

Crescenta Valley scored eight runs in the first inning en route to a 20-0 victory against Loara in an opening-round game at Ribbons Little League Field in Victorville. Crescenta Valley, the District 16 and Section 2 champion, will next compete in a winner’s-bracket game against Section 8 champion Victorville American at 6 p.m. today at the same location.

“It’s a different level of competition,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Dan Abboud, whose team finished with 11 hits against the Section 5 champion. “The games are going to be that much more intense.

“We’ve scouted some of the other teams and we hope that will prepare us for the next game.”

Crescenta Valley’s pitching trio of Alexis Abboud, Alli Lombardo and Jennie Chacon combined for a no-hitter with the game being called in the middle of the fourth because of the 10-run mercy rule. Abboud, Lombardo and Chacon combined to strike out eight.

Lombardo proved adept with the bat, recording a two-run double in the first to give Crescenta Valley a 2-0 lead. Mallory Hill and Alexis Abboud scored after each recording a single.

Crescenta Valley scored nine runs in the second to extend the lead to 17-0 before pushing across three runs in the third to complete the scoring. Crescenta Valley had 10 hits through the first two innings.

Alexis Abboud finished with a team-high three hits for Crescenta Valley, which received two apiece from Hill, Daisy Kim and Chacon and one from Peyton Hause. Hause had a bunt single that drove in a run in the second.

“We were a little nervous before the game and then we were excited,” Hause said.