Through the first eight innings, walks didn't come back to hurt Cerritos College pitchers, thanks in part to some stellar defense. But in the ninth inning of their non-conference game against Glendale College at Kincaid Field on Saturday, the first of 10 walks came around to score. It was an insurance run for the Vaqueros, who went on to post a 3-1 win. The Falcons (5-7) finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the ninth inning and left a runner on third base. The team will start South Coast Conference play on Tuesday with the first of a three-game series at 2:00 p.m. against Mt. San Antonio College on the road.

After Glendale (10-4) scored their third run in the top of the ninth inning, the Falcons quickly put runners on first and second base in the bottom of the stanza against closer Tyler Delzell. Freshman pinch-hitter Jared Robinson (Bishop Amat HS) and freshman second baseman Joseph Rivera (Savanna HS) each singled on the first offering from Delzell and after freshman outfileder Jose Ayala (Maywood Academy HS) sacrificed both runners over, Cerritos had one of their best offensive opportunities of the day.

Freshman catcher Anthony Vazquez (Bellflower HS) put the team on the board with an RBI ground out. But freshman outfielder Johnny Martinez (Katella HS) flew out to end the game. It was the 13th fly ball out for Cerritos on the day.

Freshman starting pitcher Dylan Algra (Valley Christian HS) only met with trouble in the second inning, as he allowed a pair of runs on three hits and a walk. After that stanza, Algra (0-2) retired 10 of the next 14 batters, with the other four drawing walks. It was the fourth being the one that removed him from the game, while Algra struck out seven batters in his five-plus innings of work.

Sophomore relief pitcher Sebastian Frutos (Bellflower HS) received an excellent defensive play from freshman third baseman Hayden Stevens (Katella HS) in the sixth inning to end a Glendale scoring opportunity. With one out and the bases loaded, Stevens stabbed a sinking line drive from Pepe Marquez and in the same motion, dove to the bag to double up Oscar Tinjaca to end the inning. Freshman first baseman Zach Diaz (Highland HS) made a diving catch on a foul ball to keep the Vaqueros at bay in the seventh inning.

It looked like Cerritos would cut into the Vaquero lead in the seventh inning when Rivera, Ayala and Vazquez all singled with two outs to load the bases. But Martinez grounded into a fielder's choice to end the threat.

Photo by Daryl Peterson