SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : 3-A : Nifty Day Lifts Nista, Laguna Hills
LA PALMA — Laguna Hills took advantage of Brett Nista’s strong pitching to defeat Kennedy, 4-1, in a first-round game of the Southern Section 3-A playoffs Friday at Kennedy High School.
The Hawks (19-8) will advance to the second round to play host to Norco Tuesday. Norco beat Calexico, 9-4, also Friday.
Nista (7-1) was in command as he struck out four, walked two and yielded only four hits.
“As usual, he was right around the plate,” Laguna Hills Coach Pete Tereschuk said. “He was ahead on the count and made few mistakes. He’s done a great job all year.”
Laguna Hills took a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Nista played a key role with a bases-loaded line drive to Kennedy third baseman Daric Grove. Grove knocked the ball down but threw late to the plate, allowing Ryan Kosciuk to score. Mike Messinger then hit a single to center to drive in two more runs.
In the fifth inning, Messinger doubled and pinch-runner Rick Stilson scored on Matt Bonas’ bad-hop single to right to make the lead 4-0.
Kennedy (18-9) scored its only run with two outs in the seventh on Chris Clark’s single to right, scoring Jeff Cummins from third.
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