Freshman catcher Alonso Reyes (Culver City HS) lifted a fly ball deep enough into left field to bring home sophomore third baseman Anthony Bassett (Colegio Bautista de Managua, Nicaragua/Los Angeles Harbor College) in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the Cerritos College baseball team to a 2-1 win. The South Coast Conference victory extended the Falcons winning streak to eight games, while it also completed the three-game sweep over El Camino College. Cerritos will start a three-game series against Mt. San Antonio College on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. at Kincaid Field.

The nine-game winning streak is the longest by a Falcons team since 2018 when they won 10 in a row.

Heading into the bottom of the ninth inning witgjh the game tied, 1-1, Bassett led off with a walk before freshman outfielder Diego Orozco (Long Beach Wilson HS) was hit by a pitch. Sophomore outfielder Nico Briones (Long Beach Millikan HS) successfully advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, while an intentional walk to sophomore shortstop DJ Massey (Gahr HS/Central Arizona College) loaded the bases. Reyes, who flew out each of his previous four at-bats, sent a 3-1 offering from Warriors relief pitcher Aaron Ragat to left field, which allowed Bassett to come home with the game-winning run and the team erupting in celebration.

Freshman starting pitcher Juan Garcia (Narbonne HS), making just his second start of the season, went the first 5 2/3 innings and allowed one run while striking out six. He struggled with his control at times, but was able to shut down El Camino before they could score. He retired the first nine batters of the game, but then walked the first two to lead off the fourth inning. The bases were loaded with one out after he hit Matt Chavez. However, Bassett was able to make a great play at third base, as he backhanded a hard-hit one-hopper by Angel Gonzalez to start a double play and end the inning.

The Warriors had runners at second and third in the fifth inning, but Garcia got Ryan Matsukawa to ground out for the third out. Garcia allowed two walks and a double in the sixth inning, which accounted for the lone Warriors run. He came out for sophomore Calix Armijo (Mary Star of the Sea HS), who hit the first batter he faced before Jack Nammack grounded out for the third out. Armijo (1-1), who earned the win, retired the final seven batters he faced and recorded the longest out of his Falcon career at 3 1/3 inning.

Cerritos scored the first run of the game in the fifth inning, thanks to an El Camino error to lead off the stanza. Briones reached on fielding error, while a base hit by Massey put runners at first and third base. Massey stole second and third base before sophomore designated hittier Marco Lopez (Narbonne HS/Vanguard University) lifted a fly ball that allowed Briones to score.

Massey, who had two hits and a walk on the day, also stole three bases.

Photos by Daryl Peterson