Apache Baseball Senior Night vs. Crescenta Valley

By SOHANA SAHNI Sports Editor

The Arcadia High School (AHS) Varsity Baseball team beat the Crescenta Valley High School (CVHS) Varsity Baseball team on Apr. 25 in a nail-biting game at Giambrone Field, ending with a score of 5-4. The game was a crucial one for Pacific League, with the Apaches currently standing second, with an 11-1 record and the Falcons claiming first in league with a 12-0 record. With CVHS undefeated in league so far, the Apaches need to win the next two games against Crescenta to clutch the Pacific League title.

The game was also a personal one, as it was Senior Night for the nine graduating Apache baseball players Andrew Yonemoto, Nicholas Moreno, Ben Cooper, Kennan Wilson, Evan Huang, Brayden Herrera, Devon Eskridge, Chris Garcia, and Ian Hoffsetter. Coming into the game, the seniors were both sentimental and hopeful.

single, CVHS got their first run of the game. Hoffsetter followed the run by striking out #7 from Crescenta Valley, getting the third out of the inning. With the Apaches up to bat again, freshman Maverick Silva got a single, and Eskridge followed him with a skillful bunt, ending up on first. Palencia followed behind with an RBI double, getting another run for Arcadia and making the score 3-1. With Chris Garcia next up, Arcadia scored another two runs from his single, evening the score to 5-1.

In the third inning, both teams came onto the field with vigor, and through skillful defense from both schools, the inning ended with no runs for both CVHS and AHS.

The fourth inning was headed off by a couple good swings from CV, and though the Apaches exhibited quick and skillful defense, CV ended with three more runs, making the score 5-4. The Apaches followed at bat and featured some great plays, notably another single from Silva and Garcia, yet ended with no runs, keeping the score at 5-4.

we continued to cheer for our batters throughout the entire seven innings.”

Prior to the game, Arcadia had scored an overwhelming victory over Crescenta Valley of 17-5. With this, they stood second in the CIF SS Pacific League standings at 9-1, neck and neck with Burroughs High School (BHS). Great Oak was also ranked second in the Southwestern League at 11-3-1. The CIF game would prove to be the most high stakes of all; whichever team won would advance to the next round.

The first inning started out with GOHS up to bat. Arcadia started out strong, scoring their first out immediately. However, Great Oak bounced back, scoring a home run. Despite this, Arcadia managed to keep Great Oak from scoring throughout the second inning, striking two of the opposing players out remarkably quickly.

“My teammates played really well and battled hard,” said freshman Samatha Almaraz, adding that “there was just a lot of excitement and adrenaline, so I think everyone…played the best they could.”

Around halfway through the game, pitcher junior Sofia Herrera was hit in the leg after a Great Oaks player bunted a ball. Though clearly hurt, she was quick to recover and amazingly, continued on with the game.

The sixth inning saw multiple catches by Arcadia, including an impressive one from the outfield, made just in time to tag the Great Oak player out on third base. Unfortunately, this we not known that Great Oak’s pitcher was committed to Ole Miss, our mindsets may have been different going into this game. We may have been more confident and may not have given up so easily.”

The team also showed outstanding sportsmanship and had a great attitude throughout the entire game. Although they unfortunately did not score any points, they still acted as a team and didn’t let the results of the game get them down.

“Even though we were having a rough time, we were still talking and laughing and getting along,” expressed Almaraz.

Their great attitudes paid off, as Arcadia showed Great Oak that they would not give up despite the odds.

“Maintaining a good attitude throughout the game is extremely important because it shows that we are not willing to quit,” said Lai. “The other team knows not to let-up because we can build momentum and come back from behind at any given time. Good attitudes spread from one player to another, just as easily as bad attitudes do, so it’s important to stay positive.” jfang@arcadiaquill.com

In spite of the outcome of the game, the AHS Girls Varsity Softball team showed great tenacity and excellent effort. Best of luck in the next season, Apaches!

“I’ve been playing with some of these guys since I was the age of 5 or 6, and moving up the ranks from middle school to high school has been really special to us. Especially this last year, we’ve built such a strong chemistry, and I feel like coming into one of our last final games against CV we have a good chance,” said Huang.

The first inning started with Arcadia coming in strong with Hoffsetter as starting pitcher. After getting a quick three outs, Eskridge headed the Apache batting lineup with a line drive single deep in the outfield. Followed by Eskridge was Fernando Palencia, the junior infielder/pitcher leading their team in most offensive stats, with a double far into left outfield. Garcia followed Palencia with a double, leading to the first run of the game from Eskridge. Next up was Avery Truesdale, a sophomore infielder, who hit an impressive single, but got out on first after trying to steal second. With runners on the corners and two outs on the board, Herrera came up to the plate and hit a double, scoring an RBI and allowing Palencia to score a run, making the current score 2-0.

As the second inning began, Arcadia came out with Hoffsetter on the mound again. As the inning commenced, the team worked efficiently, striking out the first batter and getting a quick out after a line drive to third from the second. With two outs on the board, Arcadia had runners on first and third base. After a quick ssahni@arcadiaquill.com

The following two innings were an intense battle between the two teams, but the Apaches stayed strong with a clean and impenetrable defense, keeping CV at bay and ending the game with a score of 5-4.

This win was not only an important one for Pacific League, but also a sentimental one for many of the departing seniors and underclassmen.

“Since we’ve all been playing together so long, it was a really special moment, especially because it’s one of our last games all together. Playing against a tough rival like CV was a great atmosphere, along with all the photographers and people in the stands,” said Huang.

“Some of my best friends are seniors who I’ve developed close friendships with over the past several years. Watching them leave is a proud and heart wrenching moment,” said junior Roman Cicero.

“I’m really proud of our team, and we’re gonna get the dub Friday,” said Cooper.

In their next match against CV on Apr. 28, the Apaches came out victorious with a score of 11-2 and claimed their 4th straight Pacific League title. Congratulations to the Arcadia Baseball team for such a successful run, and good luck to them in their endeavors! Go Apaches!