Crescenta Valley Cruises, 9-1

TUJUNGA — The Crescenta Valley High softball team took advantage of Verdugo Hills’ decimated roster and sloppy fielding Thursday, using only six hits to pin a 9-1 nonleague loss on the host Dons.

Verdugo Hills (2-1) committed seven errors--four by shortstop Kelly Balkey--and failed to support freshman pitcher Kim Wood, who started and completed her first game, giving up three earned runs.

“Kimberly did a great job but we made some mistakes early and it’s tough to come back when you’re down 4-0 after two innings,” Verdugo Hills Coach Dan Balkey said.

Crescenta Valley’s Danielle Ferreira pitched a complete game in her first appearance of the season, striking out six and giving up an unearned run in the second inning.

The Dons were generally baffled by Ferreira’s blistering riseball, but were missing four starters and had another at only partial strength.

Outfielders Keelie Duncan and Kristy Frye were recently declared academically ineligible while pitcher Melanie Wood and outfielder Tiffany Galante were suspended Wednesday for violating school rules.

Standout pitcher Shannon Schoonover, recovering from flu, played four innings in right field.

“We had been anticipating this game for a long time, but then things fell apart,” Balkey said.

“We held our own with the lineup we had but with the kind of hitting team Crescenta is, you have to have some outfielders to run the ball down.”

Crescenta Valley (3-1) built a 4-0 lead after two innings on one hit and three Verdugo Hills errors, then broke the game open with four runs in the fifth.

Left fielder Becca Baldridge had two hits and drove in two runs.