ENCINO — Being a starting pitcher comes with a lot of responsibility, and so does being a lead-off hitter.

Crespi’s Diego Velasquez, who is only a sophomore, did both Tuesday in a 6-2 win over Simi Valley in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 baseball playoffs.

The Celts advance to the quarterfinals Friday. They’ll host Corona Santiago at 3:15 p.m.

“He’s a set-the-tone kind of guy,” Crespi coach Mike Glendenning said of Velasquez.

Velasquez pitched five innings and struck out three in 94 pitches. He also provided a towering RBI double to the fence in right field in the second inning, which was part of Crespi’s big offensive outburst.

 
“I really just try and throw strikes,” Velasquez said. “At the plate, I just stick to our coach’s approach.”

The Celts (18-7-3) scored five runs in the second inning. Nicholas Kougher’s RBI single scored Isaiah Magdaleno before Joshua Rodriguez scored Kougher on the next at-bat to make it 2-0. Velasquez’s double made it 3-0 before a Simi Valley error and a Landon Hodge double made it 5-0.

 
Simi Valley’s Landen Adair responded in the third inning with a two-RBI double to cut into Crespi’s lead.

The Pioneers had three quality chances to score in the game, one coming later in the third with the bases loaded and one out, but Velasquez got out of the inning with a strikeout and groundout.

Simi Valley(20-8) threatened again in the sixth inning with runners on second and third and one out. Crespi reliever Tyler Walton received a visit from Glendenning to calm him down.

“I told (Walton) he was the best-looking player on the field,” Glendenning said. “It got him to laugh. It loosened him up a bit.”

It worked. Walton struck out the next two batters to preserve Crespi’s 5-2 lead.

Simi Valley was at it again in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs, but yet again Crespi’s pitching proved to be clutch thanks to close-out pitching from Jack Galanida.

Simi Valley starting pitcher Benjamin Schweit tossed four innings, allowed eight hits and struck out two. The Pioneers left 12 runners on base.

To view this article online click here: Playoff roundup: Diego Velasquez sets the tone in Crespi baseball’s win over Simi Valley