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ENCINO — Being a starting pitcher comes with a lot of responsibility, and so does being a lead-off hitter.
Crespi’s Diego Velasquez – who is only a sophomore – did both in Tuesday’s 6-2 playoff win over Simi Valley to advance the Celts to the CIF Southern Section Division 2 baseball quarterfinals on Friday where they’ll host Corona Santiago at 3:15 p.m.
“He’s a set-the-tone kind of guy,” Crespi coach Mike Glendenning said of Velasquez.
Velasquez pitched five innings and struck out three in 94 pitches. He also provided a towering RBI double to the right-field fence in the second inning, which was part of Crespi’s big offensive outburst.
“I really just try and throw strikes,” Velasquez said. “At the plate, I just stick to our coach’s approach.”
The Celts (18-7-3) scored five runs in the second inning. Nicholas Kougher’s RBI single scored Isaiah Magdaleno before Joshua Rodriguez scored Kougher on the next at-bat to make it 2-0. Velasquez’ double make it 3-0 before a Simi Valley error and a Landon Hodge double made it 5-0.
Simi Valley’s Landen Adair responded in the third inning with a two-RBI double to cut into Crespi’s deficit 5-2. The Pioneers had three quality chances to score in the game, one coming later in the third with the bases loaded and one out, but Velasquez got out of the inning with a strikeout and groundout.
Simi Valley(20-8) threatened again in the sixth inning with runners on second and third and one out. Crespi reliever Tyler Walton received a visit from Glendenning to calm him down.
“I told (Walton) he was the best-looking player on the field,” Glendenning said. “It got him to laugh. It loosened him up a bit.”
It worked. Walton struck out the next two batters to preserve Crespi’s 5-2 lead.
Simi Valley was at it again in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs, but yet again Crespi’s pitching proved to be clutch thanks to close-out pitching from Jack Galanida.
Simi Valley starting pitcher Benjamin Schweit tossed four innings, allowed right hits and struck out two. The Pioneers left 12 runners on base Tuesday.
MORE PLAYOFF RESULTS
Notre Dame 5, Bonita 3: Knights pitcher Oliver Boone threw five innings and struck out five before Erik Puodziunas threw two no-hit innings with three strikeouts to close the game. Levi Sterling had four hits, Kai Gonzaga had three hits, and Dean West and Adam Shlesinger each had two hits in the win. Notre Dame will play at Corona High in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals on Friday.
Sierra Canyon 2, Cypress 1: Ethan Montes pitched four scoreless innings and recorded two strikeouts, before handing the ball off to junior Jonny Hagopian. Brady Hewitt closed out the final two innings for the Trailblazers. Sierra Canyon will play at JSerra in the Division 1 quarterfinals Friday.
Orange Lutheran 1, Harvard-Westlake 0: Duncan Marsten’s 4 2/3 inning of work from the mound and allowing just one run wasn’t enough for the Wolverines, who were held to just three hits in the game. Harvard-Westlake’s season ends at 21-10.
Calabasas 8, Vista Murrieta 3: Pitcher Peter Lynch earned the win and Luc Olon earned the save, both combined for four strikeouts. Phoenix Call went 2 for 2 with three RBI and Nathan Zimmer went 3 for 4 with two RBI. Calabasas will host Gahr in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals.
West Ranch 6, Tesoro 3: Ty DePerno’s bat continues to deliver for the Wildcats, going 3 for 4 with an RBI and two scored runs. West Ranch will play at South Hills in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals.
Westlake 5, San Clemente 2: Left-handed pitcher Dylan Volantis threw five strong innings and striking out seven to anchor Westlake’s second-round win. The Warriors will host South Torrance in the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals.
Campbell Hall 14, Los Amigos 0: Max Arzt threw a complete game shutout with five strikeouts for Campbell Hall. Tanner Mahon had a three-run homerun. The Vikings will play at San Marino in the CIF-SS Division 6 quarterfinals.
Castaic 9, Lancaster 4: Kyler Freude threw four innings, four strikeouts, and went 2 for 2 with a triple and RBI in the win. Coyotes will host Mayfair in the CIF-SS Division 6 quarterfinals.
SOFTBALL
Oaks Christian 7, Orange Lutheran 2: The Lions used a six-run fourth inning to put the Lancers away. Rylee McCoy and Ilove’a Brittingham each hit homers. Oaks Christian will play at Pacifica Garden Grove in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals Thursday.
Sierra Canyon 4, Diamond Bar 2 (8 innings): Sierra Canyon’s Nina Peyton-Johnson hit a walk-off homerun to advance the Trailblazers to the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals at Santiago Corona on Thursday afternoon.
WALK OFF: Sierra Canyon’s Nina Peyton-Johnson goes yard to give the Trailblazers a 4-2 win over Diamond Ranch in eight innings. pic.twitter.com/LzFC4tcDzF
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 10, 2023
Moorpark 5, Saugus 0: Moorpark’s Madison Finnerty threw a complete game shutout and struck out seven. She also hit a homerun in the win. The Musketeers will play at JSerra in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals.
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