Holding a 3-2 lead through six innings, the Cerritos College baseball team surrendered four runs in the seventh inning and dropped a 6-4 decision to East Los Angeles College. The South Coast Conference loss dropped the Falcons to 8-15 overall and 4-8 in conference play, while the Huskies are now 11-15 and 8-5. The teams will meet up again on Thursday in a 2:30 p.m. game at East LA.

Down, 6-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Cerritos saw sophomore first baseman Dean Ormonde (Long Beach Millikan HS) double with one out. He was cut down at third base on a fielder's choice with freshman designated hitter Ryan Skjonsby (Long Beach Poly HS) lacing a single to keep the inning alive. Freshman outfielder Nico Briones (Long Beach Millikan HS) drove in sophomore second baseman Andy Vega (Mary Star of the Sea HS), who reached on the fielder's choice. But the final out would be recorded before any more runs could come home.

In the second inning, consecutive doubles from Skjonsby (12-for-22, 7 RBI, 7 walks since returning from injury), Briones and sophomore outfielder Jason Givens (Santa Fe HS) put the Falcons in front, 2-0. A wild pitch plated sophomore shortstop Julian Francois (Serra HS) in the third inning after he led off with a single and stole second base.

Sophomore starting pitcher Steven Salazar (Sonora HS) limited East LA to just one run on four hits through the first four innings. However, the Huskies took advantage of an outfield error to score a run in the fifth inning, while another error in the seventh inning played a role on their four-run inning.

On the day, Cerritos left five runners in scoring position. Ormonde, Skjonsby, Briones, Givens and sophomore third baseman Carlos Vega (Mary Star of the Sea HS/Los Angeles Harbor College) all had two hits in the game.

Photos by Daryl Peterson