CV 9-10s roll past Burbank

Sometimes a team is just firing on all cylinders and there’s nothing their opponents can do about it.

Take the Crescenta Valley All-Stars 9- and 10-year baseball team for example. Over the last three games, Crescenta Valley has outscored its opponents by a combined 62-run margin.

On Sunday, Crescenta Valley defeated Burbank, 19-2, at Pacific Park in Glendale in the District 16 All-Star Tournament.

“These kids are dedicated to baseball,” said CV Coach Brett Ramaker, whose team advanced to Tuesday’s tournament final at 5 p.m. at Babe Herman Field. “These kids live and breathe baseball. Some of them sleep with their gloves underneath their pillows. I’m really fortunate as a coach to have 13 very talented ballplayers. They strive to be the best. They compete. You won’t find a more competitive team than this 10-year-old CV team.”

In the last week, CV defeated Foothill, 24-3, and Jewel City/Jewish War Veterans, 24-0, before taking on Burbank, which will now look to stave off elimination today at 5 p.m. at Babe Herman.

“It all goes back to preparing for the game,” Ramaker said. “We practice every day leading up to the tournament play. They work hard in practice.”

Crescenta Valley opened the game with 12 runs in the first inning. Braeden Bentzen slapped a three-run triple to get things going. Bentzen, who had a grand slam earlier in the tournament, said he’s adjusted to the pitching. He finished with four RBI on Sunday.

Crescenta Valley added two runs in the second and third innings and three runs in the fourth.

Zach Feehan started the game on the mound for CV, allowing no runs and no hits while striking out three in two innings.

“I felt a little nervous at first, but after I got my groove after 10 pitches I felt really good,” said Feehan.

Burbank got on the board in the fourth inning, ignited by a double from Ricky Perez to kick off the inning. Niccolo Chuidian worked a walk that inning and Robert Ceja added a RBI double.

Despite the lopsided score, Burbank Coach Tony Castiglioni thought his team did well in keeping the game competitive after the first inning.

“It kind of just opened up from there,” Castiglioni said.

Multiple Crescenta Valley players contributed in the win.

Ramaker said the team is looking to be successful beyond the local tournament.

“We still have a long road to go,” Ramaker said. “We still need to focus on that.”

Feehan stressed the balance between fun and hard work

“We’ve just got to practice hard,” Feehan said. “We’re having fun in the dugout. We have to have fun, but still have to try hard.”