Long Beach City College pushed across a run in the top of the ninth, which held up for a 2-1 win over the Cerritos College baseball team in a South Coast Conference game at Kincaid Field on Tuesday. The loss dropped the Falcons to 8-11 overall and 3-4 in conference play, while the Vikings evened their record at 10-10 and 3-4. The two teams will meet up at Joe Hicks Field at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Heading into the top of the ninth inning, Cerritos freshman pitcher Jared Robinson (Bishop Amat HS) and Viking pitcher Sean Hale had each allowed only an unearned run. But Long Beach City opened the ninth inning with both Daniel Pitts and Ray Patchen recording base hits. A fielder's choice by Yamel Delgado left runners at first and second base, while Robinson (1-3) struck out Nolan Flashman for the second out. But Caulin Anderson blooped a single in front of freshman right fielder Joseph Rivera (Savanna HS), whose throw to the plate was just late in gunning down pinch-runner Henry Severson.

A one-out bunt single in the bottom of the ninth by freshman third baseman Hayden Stevens (Katella HS) was just the fourth against Hale (5-0) on the day. Stevens was stranded at the end of the game.

LB City opened the scoring in the top of the fifth inning when Flashman reached base on a throwing error by Stevens, stole second base, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball. Prior to that run, the Vikings left runners on third base in the first and third innings. As for the Falcons, they scored in the bottom of the sixth inning when Patchen mishandled a high pop fly by freshman outfielder Edgar Menendez (Katella HS) that landed in fair territory. After a sacrifice bunt by sophomore catcher Cesar Castillo (Bellflower HS) advanced Menendez, sophomore second baseman Tyler Acevedo (Sunny Hills HS/Irvine Valley CC) singled home the run.

Photo by Daryl Peterson