CV has life after comeback against Burbank

TUJUNGA — With darkness falling and the game in extra innings Tuesday, the Burbank Junior All-Stars scored three runs in the top of the eighth and were just three outs away from capturing the District 16 Tournament championship.

But Crescenta Valley had no thoughts of packing it in.

Taking advantage of four walks in the bottom of the eighth, Crescenta Valley battled back, and when Robert McNelis scored from third base on a high chopper to second, it had completed an improbable 15-14 comeback at Tujunga Little League Fields.

Crescenta Valley was able to defeat Burbank after suffering a 15-0 tournament loss Sunday in the teams' initial matchup.

The win keeps the season alive for Crescenta Valley, as it will take on Burbank at 5 p.m. today at Tujunga in an if-necessary championship game.

The two teams not only battled on offense in the contest, but Crescenta Valley and Burbank combined to turn five double plays. It was also a game that featured 11 pitchers.

Crescenta Valley — which jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning — battled back from five-run and two three-run deficits to pull out the victory.

"I am just so proud of these guys," Crescenta Valley Coach Chris Sanford said. "I've told the team the whole way that if we strive for perfection along the way we're going to catch excellence. And that excellence came with their performance tonight.

"We are just coming together as a team, and we haven't reached our peak yet."

Burbank Coach Mike Lockheimer was disappointed that his team wasn't able to hold on to its leads against Crescenta Valley.

"I don't want to take anything away from them, but we just couldn't close the door when we had the opportunity," he said. "That's the bottom line. Even with the big victory we had against them the other night, they are a quality team that cannot be overlooked."

With the scored tied at 11 after seven innings, Burbank's Brennan Brown drove in a run on a single to center and Randy Catlett delivered a two-run home run to center to put their team up by three, 14-11.

However, in the bottom off the eighth, two Burbank pitchers surrendered three consecutive walks to load the bases. After a strikeout, McNelis walked to cut the deficit to two. Justin Rountree then drove in a run with an infield hit and Max Meyer followed with a single to center to tie the score at 14.