Falcons silence Nitros
SOUTHEAST GLENDALE — After giving up a lead-off single in the first inning and seeing the runner thrown out trying to stretch it into a double, Cole Currie became rejuvenated.
The Crescenta Valley High pitcher felt like he needed to return the favor by picking his team up. By mixing up his pitches, Currie accomplished that goal.
Currie struck out 10 and received plenty of offensive support Tuesday afternoon in Crescenta Valley’s 16-0 Pacific League road victory. The game was called after six innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Currie (2-1) gave up a single to right-center field to Sean Harris, who was thrown out at second on a accurate throw by center fielder Bryan Wang to shortstop Ted Boeke.
“That play got me going and I took it like I had to go out and throw some strikes,” said Currie, who struck out at least one batter in four innings. “That play got me going.
“Working with [catcher] Cam Silva helped me out a lot. I was able to mix my pitches up and I got all that run support.”
Crescenta Valley Coach Phil Torres said Currie might have further solidified the Falcons’ starting rotation.
“He’s pitching with confidence,” Torres said. “He gives us another pitcher who can go out there and throw strikes.”
The Falcons (13-4, 5-0 in league) scored three runs in the first and second and one in the fourth. Crescenta Valley sent 15 batters to the plate during a nine-run sixth inning to capture the first of two head-to-head meetings with Glendale (3-6, 1-4).
The Falcons got to Glendale starting pitcher Daniel Aragon (1-4) in a hurry. Wang led off with a single and scored on a triple by Troy Mulcahey, the reigning All-Area Player of the Year, to make it 1-0. Michael Russo grounded out to third to bring in Mulcahey to extend the lead to 2-0 before Troy Prasertsit singled in Boeke, who had walked and moved to second on a wild pitch, to make it 3-0.
A run-scoring single by Wang made it 4-0 in the second and Russo then delivered a two-run single to left to raise the Falcons’ advantage to 6-0.
Glendale Coach Jesus Osuna said the Falcons’ deep lineup posed problems throughout for Aragon, a left-hander who surrendered 10 runs in four-plus innings.
“That’s an excellent-hitting team over there,” said Osuna, whose team finished with two hits. “Daniel had a tough time throwing strikes.
“He knows he’s good. It’s about being able to pick up the pieces and moving forward.”
Aragon allowed the first three runs in the sixth before being replaced by Brandon Keen. Like Aragon, Keen had difficulty cooling off the Falcons. Keen allowed the final six runs of the inning, highlighted by a three-run triple Nolan Rea that made it 15-0.
Wang (two runs) and Russo had two hits apiece, while Currie also scored two runs.
The teams will meet again at 7 p.m. May 4 at Stengel Field, while Glendale faces Hoover on Friday and CV travels to face Arcadia in a showdown between first-place league unbeatens.
