It sure was a rough first inning for Cerritos College freshman starting pitcher Dylan Algra (Valley Christian HS), who uncorked four wild pitches and allowed a run against Pasadena City College on Saturday. But he was able to settle down and tossed a complete game to lead the Falcon baseball team to a 4-1 South Coast Conference win over the Lancers at Kincaid Field. The win completed a three-game sweep for Cerritos (11-16, 6-6), who will now start a three-game series on Tuesday at 2:30 against host Los Angeles Harbor College.

Algra (1-4), who was close to getting removed in the first inning, allowed a base hit to David Halstead to put runners at first and third with one out. But Algra got out of the inning and went on to surrender just two more hits the remainder of the game and struck out six batters including Kori Grant to end the game. The Lancers had only one runner advance to second base after the first inning and it marked the first complete game of the season for a Cerritos pitcher.

Cerritos broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning, thanks to two Pasadena City errors. Freshman shortstop Jacob Valdez (Katella HS) opened the stanza with a base hit off pitcher Spencer Stute (0-6), followed by a walk to sophomore second baseman Tyler Acevedo (Sunny Hills HS/Irvine Valley College). A failed pickoff throw allowed Valdez to come all the way around the bases to score, with Acecedo winding up at third base. With freshman outfielder Johnny Martinez (Katella HS) attempting to squeeze home a run with a bunt, Acevedo was caught in a rundown, but a throwing error by Lancer third baseman Bobby Fraijo allowed him to score.

Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning, freshman catcher Taylor Cavazos (La Habra HS) drew a one-out walk and moved to second base on a base hit from Valdez. A bounced pitch to the plate caught Valdez too far off base and he was picked off, with Cavazos moving to third base. Martinez then drove him home with a single through the right side.

On the day, Valdez and Martinez led the with two two hits each, while Acevedo drew a pair of walks and Cavazos went 1-for-2 with a walk.

Photo by Daryl Peteron