In need of a solid pitching performance, the duo of freshmen Vincent Fuentes (El Rancho HS) and Carlos Valle (Bell Gardens HS) combined for a two-hit shutout against Ventura College on Tuesday at Kincaid Field. The Falcons (3-5), who had lost three games in a row, pushed across an unearned run in the fifth inning for a 1-0 win. The team will travel to Fullerton College on Thursday for a 2:00 p.m. game.

Fuentes (1-0) allowed singles to two of the first three batters of the game, but got a strikeout and fly out to end the early threat by the Pirates (3-3). Including those two outs in the first inning, Fuentes retired the next 11 in a row and 19 of the final 22 batters he faced. Whe he left after the seventh inning, he had allowed just two hits and struck out eight batters. In came Valle, who sat down all six batters he faced to earn his first save of the season. He also struck out the side in the top of the eighth inning.

Cerritos had their hands full with George Washington University bounceback pitcher Jason Friedman, who didn't allow a hit until a one out single by freshman outfielder Nick Penzetta (Kamehameha, HI HS). Friedman had five strikeouts through the first three innings, until the Falcons scored the game's lone run in the fifth inning.

With two outs and the bases empty, Penzetta doubled over the head of Ventura left fielder Chris McKee. Conseutive full count walks to freshman designated hitter Christopher Gomez (South Torrance HS) and freshman shortstop Ramon Bramasco (Cathedral HS) loaded the bases. Sophomore second baseman Derrick Edwards (Mary Star of the Sea HS) hit a one-hopper to third baseman Blake Chairmontes, whose throw to first base short-hopped Kaden Betsch, which allowed Penzetta to score. Gomez tried to score from second base, but was thrown out at the plate for the final out of the inning.

Ventura threatened in the top of the sixth inning with runners on first and second base, but Fuentes struck out Brendan Griffith to end the inning. Fuentes and Valle were in control in each of the other innings.

Photos by Daryl Peterson