Falcons crush Muir and Arcadia loses this week, which means CV clinches at least a share of league crown.

By Brandon HENSLEY

The CV boys’ baseball team didn’t know it yet as players walked off the field at Muir High School Tuesday afternoon, but they surely know it now: the Falcons are at least co-champions of the Pacific League.

That happened when CV crushed Muir 13-0 in a five-inning mercy rule game, and Arcadia lost to Burroughs 4-2. That pushed CV’s record to 11-2 in league, and dropped Arcadia’s to 10-3.

And guess what? They play each other on Friday in the regular season finale at Stengel Field. Game time is 7 p.m. Arcadia defeated CV earlier this season 1-0. CV had not won a league title since 2008.

“It should be a fun game to play since the championship is on the line,” said first baseman and pitcher Elliot Surrey, who is 6-1 as a starting pitcher. “Tons of fun, [big] rivalry. It should be a close game.”

“It’s all or nothing,” said infielder/pitcher Cole Currie. “That’s what we practice for in November and December. We’re excited, we can’t wait.”

Currie was dominant for the Falcons against Muir. He pitched all five shutout innings. He ended the game by striking out Muir’s Alfredo Resendiz with two runners on base. CV outscored Muir for the season 23-0.

“Yeah it’s always nice to finish what you started. I got a lot of help,” Currie said.

Indeed, CV broke out in a big way in the fifth inning. The score was just 3-0, but the Falcons put 10 runs on the board (actually, the scoreboard wasn’t working) to make it a mercy rule game. Michael Russo had a monster triple that inning to right-center field that would have been a home run most other places, but Muir’s field is vast and expansive, and there’s no fencing in that part of the field.

“At Stengel, it probably goes about 10, 20 feet over the fence,” said Surrey of Russo’s hit. “I’ve seen him hit a ball maybe just as hard at Stengel. It was a missile. He’s got talent.”

The win was important for CV after they had lost the day before to Pasadena 5-4.

“We want to build for Friday, just try and get better,” Currie said. “Yesterday was tough but we put it behind us and came out with a win.”

Coach Phil Torres said CV’s playoff game will be next Friday, with opponent and time to be determined. Because after all, there’s still a big game to be played this Friday.

  Brandon Hensley