SOFTBALL
LA CRESCENTA ? Its playoff ride is still going, and it's gaining steam.
The Crescenta Valley High softball team's journey in the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs will continue for at least another couple of days ? and possibly another week.
Bloomington ? Crescenta Valley's second-round opponent Tuesday ? tried to slow down the streaking Falcons, but the Bruins simply got steamrolled.
Crescenta Valley exploded for seven third-inning runs and 12 hits overall in posting a 9-3 victory at home.
The Falcons (22-7) next play top-seeded Oaks Christian (26-5) in a quarterfinal contest at 3:15 p.m. Thursday at a site to be determined by a coin flip.
Crescenta Valley ? which defeated Highland, 4-3, in its opening-round game ? tied the score at 2 in the second inning on Caitlyn Cox's single that plated Emily Hanson, who scored twice.
The Falcons had a blistering third inning that blew the game open and shocked the Bruin contingent.
Stephanie Ziemann ? who usually bats first but was placed in the No. 8 spot in the order Tuesday ? started the inning with a double. Zarah Montes followed by reaching base on one of the Bruins' two errors in the inning, as Ziemann scored.
Then Sydney Vermillion singled, Lainey DePompa reached on an error, Baillie Kirker doubled and Hanson singled.
After Bruin pitcher Destinee Sanchez (19-5) finally recorded the first out of the inning, Ashleigh Viers-Gordillo of Crescenta Valley continued the onslaught with a run-scoring single.
Ziemann put the exclamation point on the inning with a two-run double before being thrown out at third for the final out.
In all, 11 Falcons stepped to the plate, six garnered hits and four others drove home runs against Sanchez, who tossed 35 pitches in the inning.
Berry surprised Bloomington by starting freshman Kali Cancelosi (5-0) in the circle.
"They videotaped everything we did [in our first-round playoff win]," Berry said. "They taped the way we walked and the way we talked.
"We knew they'd be ready to see [regular starting pitcher Kelsey] Brumm. Brumm has done a great job all year. It was a hard decision to make and we had to throw them off."
Cancelosi struck out four and scattered eight hits.
Whoever is in the circle Thursday, the Falcons like their chances against Oaks Christian.
Said Vermillion: "This team can go as far as we want."
Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
BASEBALL
