By Brian PARK

After convincingly winning the first three games of the Annual Babe Herman Tournament, the Crescenta Valley Falcons (11-4 overall, 3-0 in league play) looked unfocused in the 6-3 loss to Buena High School (7-9 overall). The game on Tuesday, April 14, was a make-up game for the rained out game on April 5.
After winning eight consecutive games and both games of a double header against Mater Dei, offense was tough to come by as the Falcons were held scoreless in five innings. Freshman Shortstop Cole Currie got the first hit of the Falcons at the top of the third inning to put a flicker in the burnt out offense. Two batters later, Junior First baseman Kyle Pomeroy batted in the first run for the Falcons to bring the score to 4-1.
Buena got off to a fast start, scoring four straight in the bottom of the second. The Buena Bulldogs were able to maximize off the mistakes made by Senior Pitcher Andy Potter, scoring two runs off wild pitches.
“[Potter] struggled a little bit, especially with [retiring] batters with the bases loaded,” Falcon Coach Phil Torres said. “We were chasing those four runs the whole game.”
The Falcons brought in Senior Reliever Jason Kim to salvage the game and slowed the Buena batters. Kim threw three scoreless innings, only allowing two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
The offensive struggles continued until in the top of the sixth when Senior Designated hitter Joe Sedano hit a single to bring two batters home and cut the lead to 6-3. After the spark, the Falcons turned the pressure back to Kim, who pitched a scoreless sixth.
The Falcons failed to score in the final inning, ending their eight game winning streaks, but revenge is still possible.
“[Buena] is a good team, and they’re a team we might play in the playoffs,” said Coach Torres.
Although they lost this game, the Falcons took three of four in the Babe Herman Tournament, with notable wins such as the shutout against Mayfair and the ten-run blowout of Jesuit.
The Falcons look to get back on track on the road against Pacific League rival Arcadia High School, a team that the Falcons lost both meeting to last season.