Crescenta Valley Loses Showdown

Ed Cleland struck out 12 to help Arcadia High defeat Crescenta Valley, 7-4, in a showdown for first place in the Pacific League on Friday night at Stengel Field in Glendale.

The Apaches (19-4, 12-1 in league play) moved a game ahead of Crescenta Valley (14-7, 11-2) for the league lead with two games remaining, none against each other. The Falcons have won the last three Pacific titles.

Cleland (8-1) retired eight of the first nine batters and struck out each Crescenta Valley starter at least once.

The Falcons pulled within 7-4 with three runs in the fifth, highlighted by Mark McCauley’s two-run double, but Cleland struck out John Barbaro to end the threat.

Arcadia took a 7-0 lead, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six runs in the fourth. The Apaches got run-scoring singles from Cleland and Steve McGee.