Next, La Crescenta lost to a powerful Walnut team that last year was one win away from advancing to the PONY World Series in Irving, Texas. With most of its team returning from last year's roster, the Walnut team proved to be too much, defeating La Crescenta, 19-2.
Not demoralized by the lopsided loss, La Crescenta picked up the pieces to battle the next day when the team matched up against a tough Charter Oak squad and won 6-4.
Key for La Crescenta was a clutch pitching by Brett Klein who went three innings giving up only one hit and only one earned run.
Bryan Wang came in as a reliever and kept Charter Oak off balance with a combination of off speed pitches.
Josh Cook then came in to close out the game with fastballs in the high 50s.
Tanner Carrico provided the offensive spark in the middle of the lineup by going 2-for-3 and scoring two runs.
After defeating Charter Oak, La Crescenta advanced to play West Covina's highly touted second team. West Covina's White team had previously beaten it's top Red team with a combination of aggressive hitting and baserunning.
Again, the game remained close with La Crescenta relying heavily on its pitching and defense to keep things close. Brett Klein again pitched very effectively going four-and-one-third innings while scattering three hits and two walks to give up only two earned runs.
And as becomes the pattern, Josh Cook came in again to close out the game, striking out four batters in one-and-two-thirds innings to help preserve a 6-4 victory.
With this victory, La Crescenta was guaranteed of advancing no lower than as the third place team out of Sections to the Regional Tournament at Charter Oak Park in West Covina.
