Take away an eight-run seventh inning by host Chaffey College on Thursday against Cerritos College, and the South Coast Conference South Division champions kept their opponents off the scoreboard. Leading 4-0 heading into that fateful seventh inning, the Falcons (29-11, 14-8) went on to drop their sixth one-run game of the season, 8-7. It marked the regular season finale for Cerritos, who will find out on Sunday where they have been seeded for the upcoming Southern California Regional Playoffs.
The Panthers (19-21, 13-9) scored their eight runs on just six hits, while also receiving a bases loaded walk before a grand slam by Matthew Shea, which made the game, 7-4. Sophomore starting pitcher Micah Hee (Kamehameha, HI HS) was cruising along until a run-scoring double in the seventh inning chased him in favor of sophomore Vincent Fuentes (El Rancho HS). One of the Falcons top starters this season, Fuentes surrendered three walks and a single before getting pulled in favor of freshman Eric Winchester (Diamond Bar HS), who surrendered the grand slam.
Cerritos staged a late-inning rally that fell short. In the top of the eighth inning, sophomore third baseman Jorge Rodriguez (Bellflower HS) singled home freshman outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez (Santa Fe HS), who reached base on an error. They added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning and stranded the tying run on second base. Sophomore second baseman Jesus Mercado (St. John Bosco HS) doubled with one out and came home on a double from freshman catcher Andre Alvarez (Walnut HS). With runners on first and third, Gabriel Gonzalez lifted a sacrifice fly for the team's final run of the game.
The Falcons jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Rodriguez singled to start the game, followed by a two-run home run from sophomore outfielder Rollie Nichols (Serra HS). Sophomore shortstop Ramon Bramasco (Cathedral HS) followed with a single and eventually came home on an infield out by freshman first baseman Michael Gonzalez (St. Bernard HS).
Rodriguez, Mercado and Alvarez all finished with three hits and combined to drive in five runs, while Nichols went 2-for-4 with two RBI, along with a walk and scored twice.
July 18, 2018
Baseball: Numbers continue to grow with signings
June 28, 2018
Baseball: Rollie Nichols to walk-on at Washington
June 26, 2018
Baseball: Signings continue with Falcons
May 11, 2018
Baseball: Backs against the wall after playoff loss
May 1, 2018
Baseball: Sweep of awards for Falcons
April 29, 2018
Baseball: Falcons seeded #1 for SoCal Playoffs
April 26, 2018
Baseball: Lead gets away from Falcons on one-run loss
April 24, 2018
Baseball: Winning run comes home on wild pitch
April 21, 2018
Baseball: Falcons slam their way to division title
April 19, 2018
Baseball: One-run loss fifth of the season for Falcons
April 14, 2018
Baseball: Win keeps Falcons in first place
April 13, 2018
Baseball: Loss to LA Harbor drops team into first place tie
April 10, 2018
Baseball: Rodriguez long ball gives Falcons 3-2 win
April 9, 2018
Baseball: Suspended game results in 6-0 loss
April 7, 2018
Baseball: Falcons finish off Compton to sweep series
April 5, 2018
Baseball: Micah Hee strikes out 10 in Falcons win
April 3, 2018
Baseball: Nick Penzetta makes a big splash in his return
March 29, 2018
Baseball: Road trip ends with 7-4 win
March 28, 2018
Baseball: Altered starting pitching pays off in win
March 27, 2018
Baseball: First game of road trip ends in loss
March 26, 2018
Baseball: Gilbert Romero tosses 3-hit shutout in Falcons win
March 24, 2018
Baseball: Offensive output helps Falcons snap skid
March 17, 2018
Baseball: Comeback slips away in loss
March 15, 2018
Baseball: Missed opportunities result in 4-3 loss
March 12, 2018
Baseball: Extra inning runs result in 6-4 defeat
March 6, 2018
Baseball: Cerritos busts open game in 14-1 win
March 3, 2018
Baseball: Quality start leads to shutout win
February 28, 2018
Baseball: Winning run scores on wild pitch
February 24, 2018
Baseball: Cerritos comes back for 5-2 win over Palomar
February 21, 2018
Baseball: Late inning runs leads to fourth one-run win
February 20, 2018
Baseball: Falcons pull away for 7-3 win
February 17, 2018
Baseball: Seven extra base hits pace Falcons in win
February 15, 2018
Baseball: Walk-off hit gives Falcons 4-3 win
February 14, 2018
Baseball: Late rally comes up short for Falcons
February 13, 2018
Baseball: Offensive explosion leads to 20-7 victory
February 10, 2018
Baseball: Team rebounds from loss with win
February 9, 2018
Baseball: Golden West scores three in ninth to beat Falcons
February 8, 2018
Baseball: Clutch hitting and pitching leads Falcons
February 6, 2018
Baseball: Shutout gem turned in by Falcons
February 1, 2018
Baseball: Second game in a row suspended due to darkness
January 30, 2018
Baseball: Suspended game ends in 6-5 Falcon win
January 26, 2018
Baseball: Falcons open the season with 5-2 win