Brandon HENSLEY

Kenny Aceves provided the heroics for the Village Christian baseball team on Tuesday at Tujunga Little League Field, as the Crusaders walked off with a 2-1 win over Whittier.

The victory, coupled with Maranatha’s loss, puts Village (18-4, 8-1 in league) in the driver’s seat for an Olympic League championship with less than two weeks remaining in the season.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Crusaders’ Jake Whisenant blooped a single to right field. Mark Fier doubled to score Whisenant, tying the game. With one out, and Fier on second base, Aceves smashed the ball down the left field line off of Whittier reliever Chad Green, scoring Fier to win the game.

“We haven’t had many of these. But it shows you,” said Head Coach Chris Casey, “it’s nothing better than to have a walk-off win.”

Pitcher Eric Oseguera lasted six innings for the Crusaders, allowing six hits while striking out three.

“I have to commend our guys for staying with the process,” Casey said. “I thought Oseguera pitched a great game. We just didn’t produce for him at first.”

Casey said he wanted more offense early on to support Oseguera. It just didn’t happen that way.

“He was up around 90 pitches. We like him stay in the 80s, but we were hoping to get some offense for him.”

Connor Rodriguez relieved Oseguera to start the seventh. It appeared the game would go to the bottom of the frame scoreless, but centerfielder Lorenzo Benefield had a line drive pop out of his glove with two outs and a runner on. That made it 1-0 Whittier, with Village hoping for a comeback.

Whittier starting pitcher Nathan Johnson pitched a solid six innings. He struck out nine Crusaders with two walks and four hits.

“I thought he did a great job. He shut our offense down,” Casey said. “We put the ball in play, but he got us out as well. They’re a tough little team.”

Village plays at Whittier on Friday at 3:30 p.m. The team is home to Maranatha on May 9 at 4 p.m.

  Brandon Hensley