Zeile’s Homer Sparks Nicks to Series Win
WICHITA, Kan. — Former Hart High catcher Todd Zeile hit a two-run home run in the first inning Thursday night to lead the North Pole Nicks to a 10-3 victory over New Orleans at the National Baseball Congress World Series.
The victory was the second straight for the Nicks (36-19) in the double-elimination tournament.
Zeile, a catcher at UCLA, had the big blast in a four-run first inning. The Nicks added two runs in the second inning and three in the fourth as North Pole built a 9-0 lead.
New Orleans avoided a shutout with three runs in the sixth inning, but the game was still called after the seventh under an Baseball Congress rule that determines a winner when the lead is more than six runs after seven innings.
Randy Hennis and three North Pole relievers combined on a four-hitter for the victory.
The Nicks, with eight Valley players on their roster, are the fifth-seeded team.
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