By Stephen Ramirez
WALNUT >> Walnut High School’s dream baseball season will continue.
Cody Dye tossed a six-hit shutout and the Mustangs, fresh off winning their first league crown in two decades, took advantage of three infield RBIs in the fifth inning en route to an 8-0 victory over visiting St. Paul in a CIF-Southern Section Division 3 game on Thursday.
Andre Alvarez and Andy Rodriguez had two RBIs each for Walnut, which improved to 18-7-2 and advanced to face either No. 4 seed Temescal Canyon or Indio in Tuesday’s second round.
Jake Maier, Fernando Alvidrez and Frankie Espinoza had two hits each for St. Paul, which finished 15-14-1.
Most of the game was a duel between Dye and St. Paul starter Emilio Sansores, who took a no-hitter into the fourth. Walnut finally broke through with a five-run fifth. The Mustangs loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by Michael Mora and Dye with one out.
Then little ball took over.
Maxwell Masana laid down a bunt that put St. Paul catcher Juan Zuniga in no-man’s land. He picked it up off the plate but had no play at home, allowing pinch-runner D.J. Lindsay to score for a 1-0 lead.
Steven Canedo followed with an infield hit off Sansores’ glove for a 2-0 advantage. Andy Coronado then had a sacrifice bunt for a 3-0 lead.
Alvarez followed with a two-run single for a 5-0 advantage.

St. Paul coach Casey Morales: “Walnut) just played baseball. They played little ball and did some good things, so you have to give them credit. They took advantage of their opportunities (in the fifth), because they had none to that point. Then they really went after it from there.”

Walnut coach Paul Acosta: “It’s been 20 years since we won a league title. The boys are playing good, they are still rolling. They’re hot, they’re proud to be Mustangs, so it’s nice to get this one and have the community involved.”

Walnut’s Cody Dye: “All I had to do was get ahead of the hitter. I knew I had him from there. I had them guessing when I changed speeds.”

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.”

By Stephen Ramirez

MONTEBELLO — Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary High School has shown a never-say die mentality this season, but asking the Cardinals to rally for a third time Tuesday proved to be too much to ask.James Goodwin had a RBI double in the 12th and was solid in relief as Southlands Christian held off host Cantwell for a 7-5 victory in a CIF-Southern Section Division 5 wild-card game.Scott Brashear also had four hits for the Eagles, who improved 10-15 and advanced to face No. 4 seed Sierra Canyon in Thursday’s first round. Goodwin, who was 2 for 5 and scored two runs, finished the final 6 and 2/3 innings. He allowed four hits and struck out nine.Cantwell, which trailed 4-0 after three innings, finished 13-12. Elijah Vazquez and Jordan Mora had two hits and two RBIs each for the Cardinals, who had won eight of their last nine games to make the playoffs.

Cantwell coach Larry Patino: “This game was in a nutshell who we were as a team (this season). We were down 4-0 early, came back to tie it. They went up one, we tied it. We played 12 innings of Cantwell Cardinals baseball. It was a great game. Hat’s off to Southlands Christian. They kept battling. It’s baseball.”
WHITTIER CHRISTIAN 3, CAMPBELL HALL 2
Chris Thompson pitched a complete game, striking out four, and Cooper Hughes went 2 for 3 with a home run, a double and two runs scored to lead the Heralds (17-11) to the CIF-SS Division 5 wild-card victory. Whittier Christian’s Damon Holm went 2 for 3 and had a stolen base and Trevor McGee and Logan Veloff each had a hit and an RBI. The Heralds will play against Monrovia on Thursday in the first round.

If you have any scores or stats from any local high school sporting events call them into the desk at 626-544-0992 or 0991 or scores@SGVN

Baseball
Whittier Christian 3, Campbell Hall 2 — Chris Thompson pitched a complete game, striking out four, and Cooper Hughes went 2 for 3 with a home run, a double and two runs scored to lead the Heralds (17-11) to the CIF-SS Division 5 wild-card victory. Whittier Christian’s Damon Holm went 2 for 3 and had a stolen base and Trevor McGee and Logan Veloff each had a hit and an RBI. The Heralds will play against Monrovia on Thursday in the first round.

Softball
La Mirada 3, Chaminade 0 — Valerie Alvarado struck out seven, Marissa Velez had a double and two RBIs and Angel Urbina had an RBI to lead the Matadores (14-15) to the Division 3 wild-card victory. La Mirada will visit Burbank on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. in the first round.

DIVISION 3
CANTWELL 4, DOWNEY 3, 9 INNINGS
The Cardinals rallied from an early deficit to score the game’s final four runs.
Cantwell improved to 14-12 and will travel to No. 2 La Serna on Thursday.
SANTA FE 6, MAYFAIR 3
Carly Gutierrez had three hits and two RBIs as the Chiefs rallied to beat the Monsoons.
Santa Fe improved to 12-9. The Chiefs will travel to Mission League champion Alemany in Thursday’s first round.
LA MIRADA 3, CHAMINADE 0
Valerie Alvarado struck out seven, Marissa Velez had a double and two RBIs and Angel Urbina had an RBI to lead the Matadores (14-15). La Mirada will visit Burbank on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. in the first round.