In the last three games, the Cerritos College baseball team has seen their pitching staff allow just one total run. On Thursday at Rio Hondo College, the duo of freshman Eric Winchester (Diamond Bar HS) and Carlos Valle (Bell Gardens HS) scattered four hits, as the Falcons (17-2, 4-0) posted a 6-0 South Coast Conference win, their 10th victory in a row. The last time a Cerritos team had a double-digit winning streak was in 1990, when they strung together a 15-game winning streak. It was also the second shutout in the last three games and third of the season and lowered their season ERA to 2.48, the fourth best in the state. The team's 17-2 record is also tied with San Joaquin Delta College for the best in the state. Weather permitting, Cerritos will host Pasadena City College at noon on Saturday at Kincaid Field.
In the top of the third inning, freshman first baseman Michael Gonzalez (St. Bernard HS) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Up stepped sophomore shortstop Ramon Bramasco (Cathedral HS), who launched a two-run home run to got the Falcons on the scoreboard. The team scored their runs in five different innings and scattered 13 hits on the day.
The two runs would be enough for Winchester, who pitched the first five innings to earn the win, with Valle allowing just one hit over the final four innings in relief to earn the quality save, his third of the season. Valle also struck out three batters.
Cerritos would load the bases in the fourth inning when freshman designated hitter Roberto Salazar (Fullerton HS) doubled with one out, followed by a walk to sophomore outfielder Nick Penzetta (Kamehameha, HI HS) and freshman outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez (Santa Fe HS) slapping out a single. Sophomore third baseman Jorge Rodriguez (Bellflower HS) drove in the lone run of the inning with a sacrifice fly, while a one-out double from sophomore outfielder Rollie Nichols (Serra HS) plated sophomore second baseman Jesus Mercado (St. John Bosco HS) in the fifth inning.
Rodriguez added and RBI single in the sixth inning, while Nichols led off the ninth inning with a double and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt. He then came home on a wild pitch to close out the scoring.
Bramasco finished the day going 4-for-5 with two RBI, while Rodriguez (two RBI) and Nichols each added a pair of hits.