Falcons felled in first round

COLTON — For a Crescenta Valley High softball team that had showed the resolve to come from behind in many a game this season, Thursday afternoon’s CIF Southern Section Division III first-round game was no different.

But this time around, the Falcons ran into a Colton squad that proved to be just as resilient.

What transpired was a see-saw affair that ended with the Yellowjackets prevailing, 6-3, over the visiting Falcons at Colton High.

“It just didn’t fall our way today,” said Crescenta Valley sophomore third baseman Allison Lacey, who had two of her team’s six hits, including a solo home run in the top of the first that gave the Falcons a 1-0 advantage.

Colton (20-7) answered Lacey’s first-inning shot with a two-run first of its own. CV (18-9) then rallied for a pair of runs in the fourth to retake the lead, 3-2, before the Yellowjackets plated two runs in the fifth and another pair in the bottom of the sixth to conclude the Falcons’ year.

“There’s no quit in this group, they fought,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Dan Berry, whose team took second place in the Pacific League, largely on the strength of an 11-game winning streak that was stopped on Thursday. “You can’t ask for any more.”

More than anyone in the Falcons order, Lacey seemed to have a bead on Colton freshman pitcher Marcilena Valenzuela, who went the distance, allowing six hits and striking out 13, usually with a solid fastball and an excellent rise ball.

“It was [her using] the outside [of the plate] and then the rise had a lot of movement,” said Lacey, who added a single, a walk and a sacrifice to her first-inning dinger, scoring two runs.

In contrast, Falcons starting junior hurler Erin Ashby had an arduous task in dealing with a tough Colton lineup and a high strike zone that seemed to work against her.

“We were trying to work down,” Berry said. “The strengths of hers were not able to be brought to fruition due to the circumstances in the game. That’s part of the game.”

Colton had nine hits and three walks, with all but one starter in the lineup reaching base.

“I knew they were gonna come up hitting cause they were a great team,” Lacey said.

Both Ashby and Valenzuela threw scoreless frames in the second and the third.