CRESPI HANGS A BIG 10; TREJO'S BAT, CARDENAS' GLOVE KEY PLAYOFF WIN : CRESPI 10, HIGHLAND 0.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer

For Crespi High's Anthony Trejo, beating Highland was personal.

Trejo, a former Antelope Valley resident who played Little League and travel ball with many of Highland's players, turned from friend to foe, going 3 for 3 including a three-run home run in the fifth that instantly ended the game 10-0 (because of the 10-run mercy rule) in a Southern Section Division I baseball playoff game Friday at Pierce College.

Trejo also had a double and three runs. ``I know all those guys, so this is a lot sweeter for me,'' said Trejo, who bats leadoff and plays second base.

Trejo's home run put an exclamation point on Crespi's seven-run fifth inning. Until the final frame, it was close game. One that Highland (15-11) might have been winning if not for some tough breaks and the brilliant, clutch fielding of Crespi right fielder Chris Cardenas.

Cardenas killed Highland's bases-loaded rally in the first with a diving catch of Jason Kubel's liner up the gap, saving at least two runs. Two innings later, with Highland busy again thanks to singles by Traviss Hodge and John Santor, Cardenas ran a long way to make an over-the-shoulder catch on Jon Anello's opposite-field shot to the wall.

``That kid looked like Willie Mays out there today,'' Highland coach Mike Van Cheri said.

Cardenas liked that his defense provided a spark for the Celts (22-5-1).

``Those were the best catches I've ever made,'' he said. ``It was a big uplift because we got all pumped up.''

``Chris is my new best friend,'' winning pitcher Tim Leveque said.

Cardenas' catches severely affected the game's pace and deflated Highland's enthusiasm, according to Santor.

``If he doesn't make those plays, it would have drastically changed the game,'' Santor said. ``Plus, we just didn't get the clutch hits when we needed them.''

Leveque (8-1) allowed seven hits in five innings but retired the last five, three on strikeouts.

``I pitched pretty well, because I was able to work out of some jams,'' Leveque said, ``but I got a lot of help from our outstanding defense. That was the key.''

Hodge (5-4) went the distance - maybe a bit too long - yielding nine hits (three for extra bases) and three final-inning walks. He struck out seven but hit three batters and had two wild pitches.

``I don't think the score really reflects how well Traviss pitched,'' Van Cheri said.

``I just made some mistakes,'' Hodge said.

Going in, the Celts were hoping to heat their bats after managing just four hits in a regular-season ending 7-1 win over Harvard-Westlake eight days ago. They will meet Palmdale or Camarillo in the second round on Tuesday.

``If we play like this rest of the way, I think we'll do pretty well,'' Leveque said.

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Photo

PHOTO To Highland's frustration in a 10-0 loss to Crespi, Jason Kubel is tagged out at home by Tim Mathews.

John Lazar/Special to the Daily News