Locked in a pitching gem with South Coast Conference co-leader El Camino College on Thursday, Cerritos College freshman pitcher Franky Lopez (Dominguez HS) was in control from the outset. He shut out the Warriors through the first eight inning, but an unearned run in the ninth inning against the bullpen cost the Falcons in a 1-0 loss. The team will travel to El Camino on Saturday for the third game of their series at noon.

In the top of the ninth, freshman shortstop Isaac Vega (Mary Star of the Sea HS) threw high to first base on a leadoff ground ball by El Camino's Ethan Felix. Freshman pitcher Cade Sonoqui (Long Beach Millikan HS) then allowed a single and walk with one out to load the bases. He was replaced by sophomore Carter Stoddard (Sunny Hills HS), who recorded the second out of the inning. However, pinch-hitter Joey Replogle dropped a single into right field, which brought home the game's only run.

Offensively, the Falcons had a chance to get on the board in the eighth inning when they had runners at second and third with two outs. Sophomore outfielder Dean Ormonde (Long Beach Millikan HS) singled with one out, while freshman first baseman Ryan Skjonsby (Long Beach Poly HS) drew a two-out walk. A wild pitch advanced both runners, but freshman outfielder Nico Briones (Long Beach Millikan HS) grounded out to end the inning.

Lopez limited El Camino to just three hits over his eight innings of work and struck out four batters. The Warriors did advance runners to second base in four straight innings, but Lopez was up to the task and left them scoreless.

In the bottom of the second inning, consecutive singles from Skjonsby and Briones put runners on first and second base. Vega was able to sacrifice the runners over, but they were stranded. Cerritos also left runners in scoring position in the third, fifth and eighth innings.

Photos by Daryl Peterson