Top-seeded Redondo remains on course for back-to-back CIF-Southern Section Division 3 championships after two impressive wins to open the postseason.
The Sea Hawks took advantage of multi-hit games by five players for an 8-1 victory over La Salle at Arcadia County Park.
Catcher Marco Valenzuela led the offensive barrage for Redondo going 3 for 4 with three RBI. Jason Dicochea had two RBI doubles and Matt Hanniff, Charlie Perkins and Luke Sullivan each added two hits.
Starting pitcher Danny Zimmerman threw six strong innings striking out six while leaving 11 runners stranded on base surrendering only one run.
“Danny threw great, was able to use the slider and fastball effectively and got some big strikeouts when he needed it,” Redondo coach Jeff Baumback said. “We swing the bats very well up and down the line up,”
Redondo (28-2) will host Culver City (24-7) in the quarterfinals on Friday at 3:15 p.m. and Baumback expect a pitcher’s duel..
“Culver City is a very good baseball team and when their ace Nolan Martinez on the mound they can beat anyone,” Baumback said. “I expect a low scoring game. Defense and situational hitting should decide the game.”
The Sea Hawks used the long ball for their first-round 9-1 win against Wilson/Hacienda Heights on Friday. Sean Reynolds, Valenzuela and Zimmerman each went yard and Reynolds picked up the victory while improving his season record at 9-0 allowing one run on two hits with seven strikeouts in six innings.
The three roundtrippers set a new school record for home runs in a season with 27 while Zimmerman’s was his 11th of the season, also a new Redondo record.
“Marco Valenzuela’s first inning grand slam was huge,,” Baumback said. “Once we went up 4-0 we felt pretty confident Sean would hold that lead.”
El Segundo (16-16) also has reached the quarterfinals and will play at second-seeded Palm Desert (19-10) on Friday. The Eagles scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat visiting Temescal Canyon 6-5 on Tuesday.
El Segundo eliminated Mira Costa 4-2 in the first round behind the pitching of Spencer Long and hitting of Nico Celestial who had three RBI in the win.
Mira Costa (24-7) not only saw its successful season come to an abrupt end, the loss also marked the end of Cassidy Olson’s tenure as head coach of the Mustangs.
Olson, who decided to step down at the end of the season to spend more time with his family, was proud of team.
“This was a fun team to coach,” Olson said. “They set the school record for wins, were state champions in the Boras Tournament and split our series with a very good Redondo team.”
Brackets and results are available at cifss.org.
