In both of their South Coast Conference games against Chaffey College, the Cerritos College baseball team had trouble converting base runners into runs. They left seven runners on base in their 5-0 loss on Thursday and stranded 11 more (eight in scoring position) in a 6-1 loss on Saturday at Kincaid Field. The Falcons (8-15, 3-5) will now start a three-game series with El Camino College, starting with a 2:30 p.m. game at Kincaid Field on Tuesday.

They had runners on first and second base in the bottom of the first inning, but could not cash in when freshman outfielder Rolando Nichols (Serra HS) hit into an inning-ending double play. Cerritos matched that in the second inning, thanks to a pair of walks, with freshman catcher Christopher Gomez (South Torrance HS) grounding out to end the threat. The Falcons also left a runner on third base in the third inning and on second base in the fourth and seventh innings. Gomez was starting his first game at catcher this season due to the injury to starter Adam Rubio (Montebello HS)

All the while, the Panthers were chipping away with single runs in the second, third and sixth innings against freshman starting pitcher Gilbert Romero (Alhambra HS). But it was a three-run seventh inning against freshman relief pitcher Carlos Valle (Bell Gardens HS) that opened the game up. The big hit was a two-out, two-run single by Ellis Stevens.

The Falcons finally got on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning when freshman third baseman Jorge Rodriguez (Bellflower HS) led off with a single, moved to second base on a passed ball and then to third base on a wild pitch. Sophomore second baseman Derrick Edwards (Mary Star of the Sea HS) singled home Rodriguez, but the Falcons left runners on first and second base.

Photos by Daryl Peterson