Crescenta Valley, CA – April 2 – What a difference a couple of days can make. Even though the Samohi Vikings lost to the Crescenta Valley Falcons 5-4 on Saturday night, the Vikings’ play greatly improved almost overnight from their previous thirteen games.
The Vikings battled all night long, twice coming back from one-point deficits. They finally took a lead in the top of the seventh with a clutch triple down the right field line from junior Adam Padilla to bring home two runs from second and third to put Samohi up 4-2.
But the Vikings had no answer for pitcher Elliot Surrey, who went four for four from plate with three RBI and struck out nine from the mound. He led a comeback rally in the bottom of the seventh inning that featured three Falcon runs to close out the Vikings 5-4.
“I was so proud of our team,” said Coach Philip-Guide. “The way they kept battling back against a very strong division two team. That pitcher we faced in the last two innings is an All-CIF pitcher and we were able to hit him. We didn’t give up and that’s something that shows me the character of this team and it proves that if we play fundamental baseball, we can compete with any team.”
The Vikings continue their play in the Babe Herman Tournament against the North
Saxsons on Mon. April 4 at 3:15 p.m. at Samohi field.