Through the first three innings of their South Coast Conference game against El Camino College at Kincaid Field on Saturday, it would have been easy for the Cerritos College baseball team to hang their heads. They trailed, 5-0, committed three errors, had one hit and were on their third pitcher of the day. But the Falcons scored once in the fourth inning and followed that with five big runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-5 lead. The Warriors tied the game in the top of the ninth inning, but sophomore outfielder Shane Preston (Deer Creek, OK HS) drove in freshman outfielder Mark Pena (Bell Gardens HS) from second base with a two-out single down the left field line to win the game.

The win improves the team's record to 20-13 and 12-6 in the conference with one more three-game series remaining. Cerritos will play three games against Los Angeles Harbor College with the first game set for 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Seahawk Field. The Falcons are in second place and are two games behind Long Beach City College heading into the final week. The Vikings have a three-game series with third place ECC Compton Center.

Jump-starting the rally for Cerritos was sophomore third baseman Victor Guadalupe (La Quinta HS), who hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. He came to the plate with the team trailing 5-2 in the fifth inning with two outs and the bases loaded. On a 2-2 pitch, Guadalupe drove a shot off the left field fence for a three-run double and a tie game. Freshman catcher Gary James (Sunny Hills HS) gave the team a 6-5 lead with a base hit off starting pitcher Ulices Moreno.

Freshman starting pitcher Valentin Flores-Gomez (Gahr HS) lasted just 1/3 of an inning after allowing two runs on four hits and one walk. Freshman Jonathan Marriott (La Quinta HS) gave up three runs (all unearned) in two innings. Helping to shut down the Warriors was sophomore George Mendoza (Bell Gardens HS), who pitched 4 1/3 innings and was charged with one run on four hits. He retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced until three his in the eighth inning led to the tying run. Freshman closer Jerald Johnston (California HS) earned the win, as he retired both batters he faced in the top of the ninth inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Pena beat out an infield single with two outs and then stole second base. He came home with the winning run when Preston singled down the left field line past ECC third baseman Ricardo Serrano.

Photos by Daryl Peterson