By Tim Peterson
(Arcadia) – Fernando Placencia threw a complete game and allowed one run to lead Arcadia to a 5-1 win over Crescenta Valley Friday night at Giambrone Field. The Apaches wrapped up their fifth straight Pacific League title in the process.
Placencia struck out seven and walked just one while scattering eight hits to pick up the win. He allowed a run in the second on a double by Jimmy Spears and a run scoring single by Mike Herman but escaped further damage.
With the Apaches up 5-1 Placencia ran into trouble in the sixth when Jake Deno and Dante Cerecedes singled with one out. Spears then drew a walk to load the bases. But Placencia wiggled off the hook once again. He struck out Herman and with Chris Torres up, a pitch got away from the catcher Maverick Silva and Deno tried to score from third base. But Silva’s toss to Placencia covering nailed a sliding Deno at the plate to end the threat.
“That was huge,” said Arcadia Coach Nick Lemas. Huge it was and Placencia took advantage by retiring the side in order in the seventh to close it out.
Arcadia got all of the runs it needed in the first inning. With one out Jordan Vogel singled to left field and stole second. Leo Peniche singled to score Vogel and Palencia was hit by a pitch. After Avery Truesdale was nailed by another pitch Damian Catano grounded out to first to drive in a run. Silva and Jerry Carlos followed with ground balls that the Falcons were unable to handle and two more runs scored and after just one inning it was 4-0 Apaches.
Arcadia added an insurance run in the fifth when Peniche led off with a triple and after Crescenta Valley replaced starter Sam Sellars with Gunner Herman Catano greeted him with a double to right to drive in Peniche.
“We scored four in the first and then just kind of sat on them. So I was glad to add that run,” Lemas said.
For Placencia, who is committed to San Diego, the four runs were more than enough.
“He’s been doing that for us all year. We didn’t have anybody else up tonight, ” Lemas said. “It was our plan to have him go the distance.”
The Apaches finished the regular season with an overall record of 19-7 and 13-1 in the Pacific to win it. The Falcons finished 19-7 and 11-3.
For Arcadia it was the 25th Pacific League championship.
Both teams now will wait until Monday to find out who their playoff opponents will be.
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