El Rancho baseball opened the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs with a strong 4-2 victory over Estancia on Thursday afternoon in Pico Rivera. The Dons protected their home field in the first-round matchup and improved their overall record to 17-12 on the season. Estancia entered the game riding an eight-game winning streak, but El Rancho delivered in key moments to advance to round two.

The game remained scoreless through four innings as both teams battled defensively. Estancia collected 10 hits in the game, but El Rancho’s pitching and defense stepped up when it mattered most. The Dons finally broke through in the fifth inning with two runs before adding two more in the sixth to build a 4-0 lead. Estancia answered with two runs of its own, but El Rancho held on late to secure the playoff win.

Several El Rancho players contributed throughout the game. Senior David Gonzalez and junior X. Contreras were among the players highlighted in the MaxPreps game stats, while sophomore Daniel Reyes also made an impact for the Dons. El Rancho entered the postseason as one of the stronger teams in Division 6 and showed poise under pressure in its playoff opener. The win also continued a successful season for a team that has battled through a competitive schedule all spring.

With the victory, El Rancho now advances to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 6 playoffs. The Dons are scheduled to face Northwood on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. as they continue their postseason run. After a solid all-around performance in round one, El Rancho will look to carry its momentum into the next playoff challenge.