It would have been an outside chance for the Cerritos College baseball team to qualify for the Southern California Regional Playoffs, even if they had won their final six games of the regular season. But after their 3-1 South Coast Conference loss to El Camino College at Kincaid Field on Tuesday, those outside chances may have been completely dashed. The loss put the Falcons at 13-18 overall and 8-8 in conference play, while the Warriors improved to 16-15 and 8-8, as the teams sit in a tie for fifth place. The two teams will meet up on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at El Camino.

Cerritos had a great chance at a big inning in the bottom of the fourth, but came away with only one run. Trailing 2-0 to enter the stanza, freshman outfielder Johnny Martinez (Katella HS) opened with a base hit off winning pitcher Dalton Erb (5-3). After a pair of outs were recorded, the trio of Jose Romero (Whittier HS), Tyler Acevedo (Sunny Hills HS/Fullerton College) and Jose Ayala (Maywood Academy HS) all drew walks, with the final one forcing in a run. However, catcher Taylor Cavazos (Diamond Bar HS) attempted a bunt that was covered by ECC third baseman Rex Calkins for the third out of the inning.

Freshman starting pitcher Jared Robinson (Bishop Amat HS) allowed single runs in the third and fourth inning, with the Warriors collecting two-out hits to drive in the runs. With two outs in the third, Robinson (3-6) hit Trent Miera and then surrendered a run-scoring double to Daniel Timmerman, while Calkins clubbed a two-out single in the fourth to drive in a run.

It was 3-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning after the Warriors collected their third two-out run-scoring hit and the Falcons looked to be starting a threat. Freshman third baseman Hayden Stevens (Katella HS) chased Erb after a lead-off walk. Freshman Zach Diaz (Highland HS) looped a single into right field, but it was in such a spot that Stevens had to hold a third of the way down the line and was forced out at second base on the throw. Seconds later, Diaz was picked off first base by relief pitcher Josh Mingura before Romero and Acevedo followed with singles. Mingura, who earned the save, got pinch-hitter Edgar Menendez (Katella HS) to fly out and end the inning.

Photo by Daryl Peterson