Cerritos College sophomore pitcher Valentin Flores-Gomez (Gahr HS), who missed the last two seasons due to an injury, tossed a spectacular 8 1/3 innings to help them defeat host Santa Ana College, 1-0 on Tuesday. Flores-Gomez (1-0), who surrendered just three hits in his time on the mound, battled through a tough first inning, which included a walk and an error on his part. He retired the next 15 batters before a two-out single in the sixth inning and then left the runner on second base.
Flores-Gomez, who struck out four and walked one, was replaced on the mound with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning after allowing a single to Nathan Flores, who opened the game as the Dons (2-3) starting pitcher. Sophomore Edgar Velasquez (Montebello HS) came on in relief and got Cage Massey to fly out before a called third strike against Juan Gonzalez ended the game. It was the first save of the season for Velasquez.
Cerritos (2-0) scored their lone run in the sixth inning when sophomore outfielder Rollie Nichols (Serra HS) led off with a bunt single against Flores. Sophomore outfielder Nick Penzetta (Kamehameha, HI HS) sacrificed Nichols to second base, and then moved to third base on a wild pitch. Freshman outfield Gabriel Gonzalez (Santa Fe HS) drew a walk, which chased Flores. Gonzalez advanced to second base on a wild pitch, with sophomore shortstop Ramon Bramasco (Cathedral HS) drawing a walk to load the bases with two outs. Freshman catcher Andre Alvarez (Walnut HS) then drove in the game's lone run with a single up the middle.
While Flores-Gomez and Velasquez were limiting Santa Ana to just four hits, the Falcons collected six on the day, while they also drew six walks. Nobody in the lineup had more than one hit, but Bramasco, Alvarez, Nichols and Penzetta all reached base twice.
Cerritos will now host Golden West in a 2:00 p.m. game on Thursday at Kincaid Field.