By Stephen Ramirez
SANTA FE SPRINGS — So much for the myth that postseason success comes being on a hot streak down the stretch.
West Torrance High School, which last its final four games of the regular season, shot down that theory Wednesday.
Nathan Santiago had two hits and four RBIs to lead the Warriors to a 10-4 victory over host Santa Fe in a CIF-Southern Section Division 4 wild-card game.
Cody Wissler also had two RBIs and Taylor Myers gave up three hits in four innings for West, which improved to 19-10 and advanced to face Ramona in Friday’s first round. Eddie Fournier had two hits for Santa Fe, which finished 14-16-1.
“We were probably someone you wanted to bet against going (into the playoffs),” Santiago said. “But we won the wild-card, and we’re going to the first round now. We have some good momentum. The bats woke up, and now we’re hot (going to the first round).”

West led 3-0 after three innings. Trevor Mallett hit a home run in the first and Santiago and Wissler each had RBIs in the third.
The lead blossomed to 5-0 in the fifth on a RBI single by Wissler and a sacrifice fly Jackson Cooper.
Santiago made it 8-0 in the sixth with a three-run double.
“The first pitch I swung and missed,” Santiago said. “The second pitch I had to make an adjustment, followed through and I got a good hit. I clutched up.”
Santa Fe, which finished second in the Del Rio League, had two looks early. Elias Ledesma was stranded at second in the first after a lead-off double. Myers then turned away a bases-loaded situation in the third by striking out Ezequiel Lara.
Luis Aguilar and Vicente Medina had RBI singles as the Chiefs broke the shutout with four runs in the seventh.

“We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities (early),” Santa Fe coach Pierre Romo said. “But at the end of the day, these guys fought. They were able to put Santa Fe back up there, where we are supposed to be.
“I’m just proud of each of these seniors. They did a great job and fought to the end. It’s a big plus moving into the next year with the young guys.”