Nico Padilla drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday, lifting Silverado to a 3-2 victory over Indio in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 7 baseball playoffs.

With one out, Padilla stepped to the plate with the bases loaded, hit a grounder to shortstop and beat the throw from second base. 

Uriel Martin, who singled to lead off the inning, scored from third base, giving Silverado a victory over Indio in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season. The teams also met in the Division 7 playoffs with Silverado winning 14-2. 

Both teams scored a pair of runs in the first inning and went scoreless the rest of the way. 

Indio’s Jonathan Sanchez led off with a single and quickly advanced to third base on a double from Jose Rodriguez. Sanchez scored on a ground out. Rodriguez stayed on second and a few pitches later stole third base. Aidan Ramirez couldn’t handle Jayden Pauling’s throw, which allowed Rodriguez to score for a quick 2-0 lead. Weiss struck out the next two batters to end the inning. 

Silverado struck right back. Martin was hit by a pitch and Ramriez singled. Pauling drove in Martin with a fielder’s choice, and Ramirez scored on a single from Padilla to tie the game up 2-2. 

Weiss shut down the Rajahs the rest of the way. He ended with seven strikeouts, allowing five hits over six innings. Steven Gomez picked up the win with two scoreless innings in relief. He struck out three batters. 

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Silverado (12-10) will be on the road May 20 for the second round against Grace, which beat Vasquez 13-4. 

Div. 5 —  La Serna 4, Oak Hills 3

At Oak Hills, the Bulldogs took a short-lived lead in the bottom of the fourth inning and then allowed two runs in the top of the fifth. Elijah Alvarez went 2 for 3 with a run; Lux Sullivan went 2 for 3 with an RBI; Eric Sotelo went 1 for 4 with two RBIs and a stolen base; and Jacob Webster went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run. Oak Hills’ season comes to an end with a 13-10 record. 

Div. 7 —  Granite Hills 11, Lawndale 3

At Apple Valley, Vincent Jarvis hit a pair of triples and also struck out six batters over three hitless innings to lead the Cougars. Jarvis ended 2 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs. Brody Reeves went 2 for 4 with three runs and a stolen base; Kaleb Kutz went 2 for 4 with a run and a stolen base; and Shane Vasquez went 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Granite Hills (14-10) will be on the road on May 20 at Notre Dame, which beat Thacher 9-2

Div. 9 —  Academy for Academic Excellence 14, Bethel Christian 4

At Apple Valley, Kameron Walker led the Knights with a three-hit performance, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs, two runs and a stolen base. Nathan Rudd went 2 for 5 with three RBIs, two runs and a stolen base; Bryson Lilly went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two stolen bases; and Keegan Layton went 1 for 2 with three runs and a stolen base. The Knights (13-9) will be on the road on May 20 against Santiago, which beat Public Safety Academy 14-2. 

Div. 9 —  Academy of Careers & Exploration 7, St. Pius X – St. Matthias 6

At Helendale, Silas Urtiaga fell a home run shy of the cycle for the Eagles. Urtiaga went 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs and two stolen bases. Jeremy Stevens went 1 for 4 with two RBIs and a stolen base; and Thomas Martinez went 1 for 2 with two runs. The Eagles (11-8) will be home on May 20 against Pomona, which beat Crossroads Christian 19-3. 

Div. 9 —  Cobalt Institute of Math and Science 9, Mesa Grande 6

At Calimesa, Ricky Gutierrez went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and three runs to lead the way for the Cougars. Andrew Honnold went 2 for 5 with a run and a stolen base; Kevyn Espinoza Ramos went 2 for 5 with an RBI, two runs and a stolen base; and Ryelon Brandt struck out nine batters and allowed four hits over five innings. The Cougars (9-10) will be home on May 20 against Twentynine Palms, which beat Beacon Hill 20-8.Â