DIVISION III BASEBALL : Laguna Hills Comes Back, Falls Short

Laguna Hills’ seventh-inning rally fell short as the Hawks lost to visiting Norco, 6-5, in the opening round of the Southern Section Division III baseball playoffs Friday.

Trailing, 6-3, Laguna Hills converted a double, two singles, a walk and hit batsman into two runs, but left the bases loaded when a strikeout and a fly ball ended the game.

The Hawks (17-10) took a 2-1 lead in the first when Matt Stilson and Mike McAloney walked and scored on Mike Messinger’s bases-loaded walk and Ron Devito’s sacrifice fly.

Norco tied the score in the third, when Tom Loza singled, stole second, took third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

Brett Nista, who was four for four, including three singles and a double, gave the Hawks a 3-2 lead in the fifth with a single to right center, scoring Stilson.

The Cougars scored three in the sixth, two on Gilbert Ramirez’s single down the left-field line. Norco added a run in the seventh on an error and three singles.

Laguna Hills kept the score close by throwing out three runners at home and picking off one first, but the Hawks trailed by three entering the final inning.

Stilson walked, and with one out, Nista singled and Messinger doubled to reduce the deficit to 6-4. Devito was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Dave Bernard singled to center to score Nista with his county-leading 38th run of the season.

The runners were stranded when relief pitcher Miguel Quintero struck out Marcus Elliott and got Casey Bennett to fly to right to end the game.

In other Division III play:

Irvine 10, South Torrance 6--Eric Sobek hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, and Tommie Louie and Scott Seal each had two hits and two RBIs for host Irvine (21-7). Louie (11-3) struck out eight in seven innings. The Vaqueros advance to play Corona.

Corona 15, Century 3--The Centurions finished 14-10-1 with the loss at Corona.

Woodbridge 3, Ontario Chaffey 2--Brian Carlson scored a run and drove in two on a second-inning triple as Woodbridge (24-4) beat Chaffey (17-5). The Warriors play La Quinta in the second round.

La Quinta 4, Santa Fe Springs St. Paul 2--Jim Livernois went three for three and pitched a four-hitter for La Quinta (22-5). Ken Granger had two hits with a run scored and an RBI. St. Paul finished 14-13.

Tustin 17, Kennedy 3--Tustin (18-9-1) scored 14 runs in the first three innings to take a commanding lead over Kennedy (17-10-1).

John Lauderdale had three hits and five RBIs.