Crescenta Valley 10-11 baseball keeps hits coming in 13-0 win

SHERMAN OAKS — Like a top-40 radio station, the hits just keep coming for the Crescenta Valley 10-11 All-Star baseball team.

After scoring 65 runs in three games en route to winning the District 16 tournament, CV opened up the Section 2 bracket with 13 runs on 15 hits.

“It’s impressive, definitely, as we chose the all-stars, that’s what we knew this team could produce,” Crescenta Valley Coach Dean Baker said. “I’m not surprised by it, but playing today against the unknown, it was exciting to put up those numbers again.”

Crescenta Valley defeated San Marino, 13-0, at the Sherman Oaks Little League Complex on Saturday. With the 10-run mercy rule in play, the game was called after four innings. The team plays in the tournament’s second round at 9 a.m. Sunday against Encino or West Lancaster.

Home runs from Chase Smith and Nico Koury book ended Crescenta Valley’s power display. Smith hit a solo shot in the top of the first to give Crescenta Valley a 1-0 lead.

“I didn’t swing for a home run, I just swung for a single,” Smith said.

Smith finished one hit short of the cycle with a homer, double and single. He also scored two runs and drove in a pair.

Koury closed out the onslaught with a two-run blast in the top of the fourth to cap the contest at 13-0.

“I called time and the umpire didn’t give it,” Koury said. “I was sitting back, he gave me a fastball down the middle and I just drove it.”

In addition to the home run, Koury added a double and finished with three runs batted in and two runs scored.

Baker was pleased to see his team get out to such a fast start. Crescenta Valley scored eight runs in the first frame, seven of them coming with two outs.

“That was huge,” Baker said. “I think it got us into that relax mode where all the hitters started saying, ‘Yeah, we can do this’. Hitting produces hitting.”

While the team scored runs at ease, Crescenta Valleys pitching and defense shut down San Marino’s offense. The trio of Koury, Devon Ramaker and Chuck Meyer combined to hold San Marino to two hits and three walks while striking out six.

“Our defense made some outstanding plays,” Baker said. “Basically, the kids kept the ball in front of them and that was it.

“Pitching was right on today. They were hitting their spots and making the pitches when they needed to, throwing strikes and letting the defense do the work.”

Having scored 78 runs in the last four games, Crescenta Valley looks to keep that momentum going on Sunday.

“We’ve just been playing baseball like we’ve been taught,” Smith said. “Crescenta Valley Little League, there are great coaches, great players and we just came out and had fun.”