Returning to the starting lineup for the first time in almost a month, Cerritos College outfielder Nick Penzetta (Kamehameha, HI HS) made a big splash in his return. In the Falcons (22-7, 7-4) 19-5 South Coast Conference win over host Compton College on Tuesday, Penzetta went 4-for-5 with six RBI. As a team, Cerritos had 20 hits, as they rolled to their third win in a row and fifth out of six games after snapping a four-game losing skid. The two teams will meet up again at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday at the MLB Youth Academy.
Cerritos opened the game by scoring eight runs on just four hits in the first inning against the Tartars (9-20, 1-10). The game started with sophomore third baseman Jorge Rodriguez (Bellflower HS) getting hit by a pitch, with sophomore outfielder Rollie Nichols (Serra HS) drawing a walk. Sophomore shortstop Ramon Bramasco (Cathedral HS) followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, which set the table for sophomore second baeman Jesus Mercado (St. John Bosco HS), who singled through the left side of the infield to drive in both runners. Freshman catcher Andre Alvarez (Walnut HS) followed with an RBI triple and scored on a base hit by Penzetta.
The bases were then loaded after sophomore outfielder Jakob Gonzalez (La Mirada HS/San Jose State University) drew a walk. Freshman outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez (Santa Fe HS) was then hit by a pitch to bring in a run, with Rodriguez capping off the scoring with a three-run double and was thrown out at third trying to stretch it into a triple.
That was more than enough offense for sophomore starting pitcher Gilbert Romero (Alhambra HS), who improved to 6-0 after tossing seven innings and allowing just two runs while striking out seven batters.
By the time the dust settled on the game, Penzetta and freshman first baseman Michael Gonzalez (St. Bernard HS) each had four hits, with Mercado going 3-for-4 with two walks, four RBI and four runs scored. Rodriguez (three RBI), Nichols, Alvarez and Gabriel Gonzalez (three RBI) all finished with a pair of hits.