Trailing 5-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, the Cerritos College baseball team scored three times to defeat Glendale College, 6-5 at Kincaid Field. Sophomore first baseman Brett Thompson (Corona del Mar HS/Saddleback College) tied the game with a based loaded single to center field before freshman catcher Gary James (Sunny Hills HS) won the game with a single to deep left field. He was swarmed on the field by his teammates after the game-winning hit. The Falcons (1-0) will host College of the Canyons at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday.

The team spotted sophomore starting pitcher Kyle Carpenter (Mayfair HS) with a 3-1 lead through his six inning of work. But the Cerritos bullpen surrendered four runs in the top of the seventh inning, as sophomore George Mendoza (Bell Gardens HS) allowed three straight hits before sophomore Andrew Bueno (St. John Bosco HS) got Brent Sakurai to hit a ground ball. Attempting a force out at second base, the umpire ruled that sophomore Daniel Lopez (Montebello HS) did not have his foot on the bag, with all runners safe.

After a strikeout, Bueno hit the next two batters with the bases loaded, while freshman Jerald Johnston (California HS) hit the first batter he faced to bring home the fourth run of the inning. He got the third out of the inning, but the Falcons trailed 5-3.

In the ninth inning, sophomore outfielder Shane Preston (Deer Creek, OK HS), who already had a two-run double in the fourth inning, was hit by a pitch against closer Nick Shur (0-1) to lead off the stanza. It was the fourth time on base for Preston. After the first out was recorded, sophomore pinch-hitter Edgar Menendez (Katella HS) drew a walk. Freshman outfielder Jesse Perdomo (California HS) singled to right field to load the bases.

Carpenter, who picked up a no-decision, was hit by the first pitch from Shur to get Cerritos a run closer. Thompson then hit an 0-2 change-up into center field to the the game before James won the game with a single.

Freshman Gavin Callender (La Serna HS), who pitched the top of the ninth inning, received the win.

Photoso by Daryl Peterson