Nicks Remain Undefeated in Series, 8-4

There are two things the North Pole Nicks have yet to do at the National Baseball Congress World Series.

They haven’t lost, nor have they committed an error, in five Series games.

Friday night, the Nicks (39-19) became the only undefeated team left in the double-elimination semipro tournament with an 8-4 victory over Liberal, Kan.

“We did the same things that have made us successful all year,” said Nicks assistant Coach Bob Brontsema, a former player at Chatsworth High and College of the Canyons. “Another errorless game and we got some big hits.”

North Pole played its 26th errorless game this season and had 12 hits.

The Nicks led, 2-1, after six innings and sealed the victory with four runs in the top of the eighth inning when the first seven batters reached base. Former Hart catcher Todd Zeile had a run-scoring single in the inning.

Pepperdine University shortstop Andy Stankiewicz walked twice, singled and stole two bases. His brother, Alan, a right fielder from Cal State Fullerton, added a two-run double in the eighth.

Former Saugus High and Canyons pitcher Steve French picked up his second win in the tournament with relief help from Matt Haar.

French worked the first seven innings before running into trouble in the eighth, when Liberal rallied for three runs to cut North Pole’s lead to 6-4.

The Nicks drive to the semipro championship continues tonight at 5:30 (PDT) against Santa Maria, which will start former Cincinnati Reds hurler Bill Bonham.