The West Ranch baseball team took a big step toward its first Foothill League championship. The Wildcats beat Hart, 12-1, to win its fifth game in a row.

Tony Slauson drove in three runs for West Ranch. Freshman Jagger Rusconi scored three runs and had three hits.

The Valencia baseball team stayed in the playoff picture with a 9-1 win over Saugus. Brian Mundell and AJ Balta homered for the Vikings.

The Canyon baseball team shut out Golden Valley 2-0. Chris Serrano tossed a four-hitter and struck out  eight for the Cowboys.

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In high school swimming, Saugus freshman Abbey Weitzeil will head to the CIF Southern Section prelims with the top times in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle.

She has the top time in Division I in the 100 freestyle at 50.91 seconds. She is also tops in the 50 freestyle at 23.38 seconds.

Six swimmers from Saugus qualified for the CIF prelims. Hart has 12 swimmers and six relay teams headed to the CIF prelims.

In college softball, the College of the Canyons advanced to the California Community College Athletic Association super regional after a 13-1 win over Santa Barbara.

COC won the best of three series, 2-1. Pitcher Kimmie Lockhart earned the win in Game 3, striking out four and giving up one run on two hits in five innings. She was also 3-for-3 at the plate with a double.

College of the Canyons will play Southwestern College in the next round.

In high school volleyball, the Valencia boys are the No. 4 seed in the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs and will play Knight from Lancaster in the first round.

West Ranch is on the road and plays Righetti. Saugus travels to Arroyo Grande for its first-round game. The playoffs start on Tuesday.

In the NBA, the Lakers are one win away from advancing to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs. The Lakers beat the Nuggets, 92-88, in Game 4 and have a 3-1 lead.

Kobe Bryant scored 22 points and Steve Blake hit a key 3-pointer in the closing minute to seal the win.

In the NHL playoffs, the Kings beat the St. Louis Blues, 3-1, and completed the second-round sweep. Dustin Brown scored two goals, including an empty-netter at the end of the game.

The Kings await the winner of the Coyotes-Predators series in the Western Conference final.

Follow Tim Haddock on Twitter @thaddock.