On the heels of Vincent Fuentes signing with Marymount California University, Cerritos College closer Carlos Valle has also inked with the Mariners. Named 2nd Team All-South Coast Conference South Division, Valle appeared in 14 games on the year and finished second on the team with six saves, while going 2-1 on the year. He tossed 32.1 innings, allowed just 23 hits and struck out 28, while walking only three and posted a 1.39 ERA.

Out of high school for nine years, Valle came to Cerritos after pitching coach Benny Gonzalez saw him pitching in a wood bat league. Gonzalez, who coached Valle in little league, offered him a summer tryout and he parlayed that into a scholarship with a four-year school.

"I learned how to trust the process which is something we live by at Cerritos," said Valle. "We worked on the fundamentals day in day out with Coach (Hector) Zamora and we were able carry that over into the season. Pitching to contact and letting our defense work was crucial."

The Mariners lose seven pitchers from last season after posting a 19-31-1 record as a member of the California Pacific Conference, where they finished in third place. Valle will have a chance to earn the team's closer role, one he shared with the Falcons, but excelled at all season. He pitched four innings of relief on three occasions, while he struck out a season-high five batters in 3 1/3 innings of relief against Golden West College and earned the save. Valle threw four strong innings of relief in the team's division-clinching win.

"I chose Marymount because I wanted to be a part of the rebuilding process and I really liked their baseball facility," said Valle. "There were a few other out of state schools I was considering but I'm excited to be a Mariner and to be able to stay in Southern California."

Valle is one of nine sophomores to have signed with four-year schools, and says he will look back fondly on his time with the Falcons.

"I will always remember the bond we built as teammates," added Valle. "We sophomores came a long way from the 2017 season. We knew we had the potential to turn things around and with the hard work and dedication from the first year guys, we were able to achieve some incredible things. It was an honor and a privilege to play on Coach Gaylord's final team. We fell short of our goal of a State Championship but to play out the legendary Coach Gaylord's career with a conference title and the #1 seed going into the playoffs is something I'm very proud of."