This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Monday, August 9, 2004.
By RYAN MARTINEZ
Valley Press Staff Writer
PALMDALE - The California District 51 Regional team couldn't have asked for a better opener in the Western Regional Tournament for a chance at the Big League World Series in Kalamazoo, Mich. District 51 dismantled the Oregon District 1 team on Sunday night winning by the a 10-run mercy-rule in five innings, behind a no-hitter by Nickie Perez. "It was a great effort by everybody," District 51 manager Walt Patison said. "It's really important to stay in the winners bracket and we did." District 51's win gives the team a break today. District 51 resumes play in the winners bracket on Tuesday against the winner of tonight's game against California District 4 and California District 3. Perez pitched a five-inning no-hitter while Brooke Stix had the two extra-base hits in the game, one of them a two-run home run in the first inning. "I can't talk too much about any one person, because everyone did so well," Patison said. Perez's no-hitter was no surprise considering her Golden League MVP season at Littlerock High. She struck out 11 of the 15 batters she faced. "I was really relaxed," Perez said. "I had fun and that's what I have to remember to do, is have fun." Perez said her performance was a lot better from her first season on the team in 2003. "I was really nervous last year," Perez said. "I think I've grown since then and I trust my defense a lot this year. That helps." Patison said that despite Perez's no-hitter, she is not the team's ace. "She's a great a pitcher as you can see, but I don't have a No. 1," Patison said. "There are a lot of talented girls on this team. She just happened to get the start tonight. "Perez has matured a lot since last year and you can see that from her high school season." The entire District 51 team had a strong showing at the plate, but Stix had her way with the District 1 pitchers. "It was a relief for me to do well up there," said Stix, who is in her first year with the Big League team. "The whole team was confident that we could hit against them, but they were nice girls." Stix had a double and a single to go along with her first-inning shot, crossing home plate on all three of her at-bats. District 51 took advantage of a District 1 pitching change in the bottom of the fifth, scoring the final four runs of the game off reliever Kayla MacKinnon. Four District 51 batters reached base in all three of their at-bats with Chanel Reaves, Tayler Wilson and Rebecca Zapata following Stix. "We had a good show from everyone," Stix said. "I just hope we can keep it going and have a good attitude."