Granda Leads Western Past No. 1 La Quinta

Junior Andre Granda drove in three runs Friday to lead Western to a 6-3 victory over top-seeded La Quinta in the first round of the Southern Section Division IV playoffs at La Quinta.

Granda led off the second inning with a home run. He singled in Will Ruffin and Kyle Stanley with two outs in the third, giving the Pioneers (15-12) a 4-0 lead.

Ian Stewart doubled in the bottom of the fourth to drive in the first run for the Aztecs (24-3). Ed Arreola drove in two runs in the fourth to bring La Quinta within three runs.

In other Division IV games:

Corona del Mar 17, Los Angeles Cathedral 0 (5, mercy)--Eric Snell, Andrew Johns, Alex Swanson and Dave Knecht led a 17-hit attack for the host Sea Kings (14-11), who scored 10 runs in the third. Cavin Cuyler (6-2) earned the win.

Tustin 4, Whittier La Serna 0--Senior third baseman Elias Landeros hit his first home run of the season as Ivan Ramirez (9-2) earned the victory for the host Tillers (17-7-2). Second baseman Danny Hippert had two hits and drove in a run.

Monrovia 15, Bolsa Grande 2 (5, mercy)--The Matadors (12-15) committed three of their five errors in Monrovia’s six-run first inning. Seniors Ramiro Ramirez and Aaron Rea homered for Bolsa Grande. Monrovia is 19-2.

In Division III:

El Dorado 7, Foothill 5--The defending champion Golden Hawks (17-10) rallied in the eighth on two-run home runs by Justin Carlin and Joe Turgeon. Chad Bigler homered for Foothill (15-12). El Dorado plays at Hacienda Heights Los Altos in the second round Tuesday.

La Habra 9, Santiago 1--Sophomore Carver Kennerson pitched the final 4 2/3 innings, allowing no runs and no hits, to get the victory for host La Habra (17-9).

Al Estrada and Kevin Sulimoff each had two hits and two RBIs and Bret Weyer had a triple, two singles and scored a run for the Highlanders.

Santiago finished the season 14-11.

Villa Park 4, Lakewood Artesia 1--Brandon Averill (9-1) pitched a five-hitter with seven strikeouts. Ricky Sims had two RBIs in the third inning and Jeff Tuttle added a stolen base, a double, a home run and scored two runs for the Spartans (25-2).

Cerritos Gahr 6, Brea Olinda 5--Ron Benigno went four for four, including a triple, and had one RBI for the visiting Wildcats (15-12). All of the runs for the Gladiators (20-7) were unearned.

Los Altos 11, Valencia 6--The host Tigers (18-8) took a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but Los Altos (21-6) scored five times in the fourth and sixth innings. Brad Bartczak had two hits for Valencia.

In Division V:

Calvary Chapel 9, Santa Monica St. Monica 1--Josh Graves hit his second homer, Blake West had three hits and Kyle Christensen (14-2) earned the victory for the host Eagles (18-7). St. Monica is 10-15.

Laguna Beach 4, Capistrano Valley Christian 0--Homers by starter John Verdugo (6-3), reliever Alex Dy-Buncio and Ryan Gagnet paced the Artists (11-12).