By Michael YEGHIAYAN

The Crescenta Valley All-Star Softball team leaned on its big bats to earn the team a birth into the semi-finals of the Southern California State Championships. Facing elimination in the Victorville based tournament, CV defeated South El Monte 14-6 with a late burst of offense.

The day before the team showed similar offensive prowess when Crescenta Valley dominated North Park with a mercy-rule shortened 21-1 win. Crescenta Valley improved to 6-1 in the tournament.

Although CV showed strong offense in the quarterfinals victory, the pitching and defense was not as sharp as it was in the past. Crrescenta Valley showed off their ability to dominate through pitching in the previous game, with Olivia Thayer, Kellyn O’Leary and Adela Alatraca combining for a no-hitter, the trio’s second of the tournament. Limiting the number of errors will also be a key for CV as the team looks to the final games of the tournaments, after three key errors allowed South El Monte to keep the game close.

However, Crescenta Valley look to be in a strong position to make a run at the tournament title with the ability to take over a game with its big bats and stingy pitching. The team will face the winner of a match-up between Victorville and Westchester Del Ray in a semifinal elimination game Wednesday night.