By Brandon HENSLEY

The Village Christian baseball team picked up another win on Tuesday, this one a 6-3 victory at Whittier Christian. It puts the Crusaders on track to win the Olympic League, provided they get by first place Maranatha at the end of the season. Village is 18-4 overall, 7-2 in League, two games behind Maranatha (7-0). The teams play each other to end the season, May 8 at Maranatha, and May 10 at Tujunga Little League Field, home of the Crusaders.

Before those games, Village has another date with Whittier on Friday at 3:30 p.m. at home. They’ll have to win that one to have a shot at League, which Village won last year under first-year head coach Chris Casey.

“We’re playing well …. We’re in control of our destiny right now,” Casey said last month after a win over Valley Christian. “We have to push the envelope to get to Maranatha.”

Tuesday’s game saw junior Danny Veloz get the game ball from Casey. Veloz went three for four at the plate, scoring two runs. Starting pitcher Eric Oseguera earned the win, while Tobias Plotkin came in relief to help cinch it.

Casey said last week that the team is being careful with Plotkin, who is also a starting pitcher. He went three innings in the win over Valley, and was taken out to keep him fresh. Casey said Plotkin, also just a junior, is rehabbing from injury and needs to get back into shape. When Plotkin isn’t pitching, Casey said he has a great infielder.

“He plays a phenomenal first base. Phenomenal,” Casey said.

Casey said last year’s team, which had some standout seniors, was good, and then became better as the year went on. This year he said his team is young, but may be just as good. He mentioned some of his transfers who are making a big impact: Veloz, Nick Walker, Ricky Perez and Matt Vilches. All of them are either sophomores or juniors.

“I think Ricky’s probably the best shortstop in the whole area,” Casey said of Perez. “He’s really good, fundamentally sound. He can pitch, too.”

Village, which plays in Division II in CIF, won its first round playoff game last year against Simi Valley, but fell to Etiwanda in the next one. The Crusaders are looking to at least make it that far, but first things first.

“It’ll be great [if] you get that trophy. If we’ve won League, it’s a good year,” Casey said.

CVHS Updates
The CVHS baseball team shut out Glendale 7-0 on Tuesday. The winning pitcher was Trevor Beer, who improved to 6-1. Beer collected 14 strikeouts. Jake Schaffer and Will Grimm each tripled; Brian Ghattas and Grimm had doubles, and Beer and Justin Parrot each drove in runs.

CV is deadlocked with Arcadia at 11-0 in the Pacific League. CV is 20-4 overall.

The Falcons play Glendale again on Friday at 7 p.m. at Stengel Field. They finish the season against Arcadia on May 8 at Arcadia at 7 p.m. On May 11 at Stengel Field at 7 p.m., the Falcons are hosting Fan Appreciation Night. Gates open at 5:30; game is at 7 p.m.

The CV softball team is on its way to a League title if they can stave off Burroughs down the stretch. The Falcons beat Burbank 6-0 on Tuesday, and are 10-1 in League, tied with Burroughs, which has the same record. Both teams would tie for the League title if they win out, because each has one win against the other this season. Both teams are a lock for the CIF playoffs, and this looks to be the best team CV has had in several years.

CV plays Muir at home today at 3:30 p.m. The team hosts Hoover on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., and then wraps up the season against Arcadia at Arcadia High on May 10 at 3:30 p.m.

  Brandon Hensley