CRESPI MEETS ITS MATCH : ONE RUN ISN'T ENOUGH AGAINST 2-TIME CHAMPS FOUNTAIN VALLEY 5, CRESPI 1.

Byline: Eric Sondheimer Daily News Deputy Sports Editor 

It was Crespi High School's mission impossible: Throw a third straight shutout in the Southern Section Division I baseball playoffs.

Neither a little rain, a little wind or some sunshine aided the Celts. Their ace pitcher, Brian Felten, lasted only 2-2/3 innings, and their hitting attack was no match for Pepperdine-bound right-hander Steve Schenewerk in a 5-1 quarterfinal loss to two-time defending Division I champion Fountain Valley on Friday in Orange County.

Crespi (21-8) had won its past two playoff games by scores of 1-0. The offense had its usual one-run output, but there was no way one run would hold up against the talented Barons (22-7).

Further, Crespi was without left fielder Christian Dempsey (mononucleosis) and shortstop Chris Crawley played with a fractured wrist.

``We'd have to beat them 1-0 or 2-1 or we'd be in trouble,'' Crespi coach Scott Muckey admitted.

Felten (9-2), who had pitched as well as any 16-year-old junior could over the past four weeks, gave up four runs and seven hits in his two-plus innings. He was falling behind in the count and fooling no one.

``They jumped on every pitch I threw and I couldn't work out of it,'' Felten said.

Added Fountain Valley coach Ron La Ruffa: ``Our kids were not intimidated by their No. 1 kid.''

Felten gave up an RBI single to Kevin Burford in the first inning, the first run scored against Felten in his last five starts. Crespi tied the game in the top of the third on John Campanella's RBI double. But Fountain Valley scored four runs in the bottom of the third on five hits to take a 5-1 lead.

Down but not necessarily out, the Celts came back to load the bases with none out on singles by Andy Campanella, Barry Matthews and Robert Hirsh. Then Schenewerk went to work. He got a strikeout, force out and ground out, ending the threat.

Schenewerk struck out seven, walked none and finished with a six-hitter.

``We were struggling (hitting) in the playoffs,'' Crespi catcher Brian Luderer said. ``We wanted to get going. We thought we would. But their pitcher was tough. He wasn't overpowering, but he threw hard and kept us off-balance.''

The game could have become a rout, but Crespi's Matthews threw well in relief, retiring nine straight batters in order.

Afterward, there were plenty of glum Crespi faces, but there was also recognition of their achievement. They had knocked off two league champions. Felten may have been the losing pitcher Friday, but his future is bright.

``I can't wait to see what he can do next year,'' Luderer said.

Asked what he learned in his playoff experience, Felten said, ``That I could play with the big boys, but it shouldn't have ended like this.''

Loyola 3, Fontana 0: Hector Nieto homored in the third inning as the Cubs (22-7) upset the top-seeded Steelers (25-2) in a Southern Section Division I quaterfinal game.

Scott Arrasmith and John Hilvert each had RBI singles for Loyola while Jason Carrigan and Chris Quiroz combined to limit Fontana, which is ranked No. 2 nationally by USA Today, to just five hits.

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Crespi's Brian Luderer wipes his face as he le aves the field following the Celts' loss to two-time defending champion Fountain Valley.

(2) Robert Hirsch of Crespi can't reach a ground ball bouncing down the right-field line.

Evan Yee / Daily News