Playing in their fifth extra-inning game of the season, the Cerritos College baseball team dropped their first of the season, a 6-4 decision in 10 innings against Pasadena City College at Kincaid Field on Monday. The game was a rain make-up from this past Saturday, with the two teams meeting up again on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at Brookside Park in Pasadena. The loss to the Lancers (12-8, 3-2) was the first at home for the Falcons (17-3, 4-1) in 11 games and also snapped their 10-game winning streak overall.

After battling back with an eighth-inning run, the Falcons had a chance to win the game in the ninth inning after sophomore shortstop Ramon Bramasco (Cathedral HS) drew a one-out walk, stole second base and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. But sophomore second baseman Jesus Mercado (St. John Bosco HS) struck out to end the inning and the threat.

Sophomore relief pitcher Micah Hee (Kamehameha, HI HS) did an outstanding job coming on in relief for sophomore starting pitcher Gilbert Romero (Alhambra HS), who lasted 5 1/3 innings. After a shaky start to his appearance, where a passed ball and then a wild pitch allowed John Bicos to score and give the Lancers a 4-2 lead, Hee retired 11 of the 13 batters he faced and struck out seven.

With Hee replaced by sophomore Jakob Gonzalez (La Mirada HS/San Jose State University) in the top of the 10th inning, Pasadena City benefitted from Jose Jimenez getting hit by a pitch to lead off the stanza. With two outs, Gonzalez (0-1) hit Bicos, which set the table for Edward Manzo, who drilled a two-run double to left field, which turned out to be the winning runs.

Cerritos took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when sophomore third baseman Jorge Rodriguez (Bellflower HS) doubled and then scored on a double by Bramasco. After stealing third base, Bramasco came home on an infield single by Mercado. The Falcons scored their other two runs on a wild pitch in the sixth inning and a passed ball in the eighth inning. In the sixth, Mercado singled up the middle and stole second base. He moved to third on an infield out and then scored on a wild pitch.

Freshman first baseman Michael Gonzalez (St. Bernard HS) drilled a one-out triple in the eighth inning and after freshman pinch-hitter Alex Gonzalez (La Mirada HS) drew a walk, a passed ball allowed Michael Gonzalez to score and Alex Gonzalez to move to second base. With two outs and Alex Gonzalez at third base, freshman outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez (Santa Fe HS) was able to lift a bunt over Lancer pitcher Gary Acuna's head, but wasn't able to beat the throw from a hard-charging Jimenez at shortstop.

Rodriguez, Bramasco, Mercado and sophomore outfielder Rollie Nichols (Serra HS) all had a pair of hits for the Falcons.

Photos by Daryl Peterson