For the first time since 2018 and 31st time in school history, the Cerritos College baseball team has won a conference championship. On Thursday, freshman pitcher Derek Valdez (Los Alamitos HS) tossed a complete game shutout, as the Falcons defeated Long Beach City College, 8-0. It was the fourth complete game of the season for Valdez. Cerritos (31-8, 18-5) will close out the regular season in Long Beach at 2:00 p.m. on Friday.

The Falcons scored single runs in the first and second innings to take a quick 2-0 lead. In the first inning, freshman catcher Alonso Reyes (Culver City HS)  and sophomore third baseman Anthony Bassett (Colegio Bautista de Managua, Nicaragua/Los Angeles Harbor College) singled with one out. Freshman outfielder Isaiah Rios (St. John Bosco HS) then hit a ground ball, but Vikings shortstop Olid Snakenborg mishandled the ball, which loaded the bases. Sophomore first baseman Mike Santos (Servite HS) followed by lifting a fly ball deep enough to score Reyes from third base. Another LB City defensive miscue led the second run of the game for Cerritos in the second inning.

Freshman second baseman Dylan Immel (El Segundo HS) led off with a single to left field that rolled past Caleb Brandon and allowed Immel to race to third base. Sophomore outfielder Nico Briones (Long Beach Millikan HS) followed by lacing a double inside the left field line to bring home Immell.

The offense was enough for Valdez (11-1), who scattered eight hits and relied on his defense to get out of several innings. After retiring the side the first three innings, the Vikings got their first runners on base, But Valdez was able to strike out Luke Davis for the second out, while Reyes threw Brandon out trying to steal third base to end the inning. He got Long Beach to hit into a double play in the fifth inning, while the final three innings of the game ended on double plays, including the final out of the game.

Cerritos added to their run total with three in the sixth and eighth innings. With Immel on first base after reaching on a fielder's choice, Briones drew a walk, while an infield single by sophomore outfielder Marlon Oviedo (Colegio Parroquial San Rafael N#1, Nicaragua/Los Angeles Harbor College) loaded the bases with one out. Sophomore shortstop DJ Massey (Gahr HS/Central Arizona College) drove in Immel with a sacrifice fly for the first run of the inning before another Vikings error aided the Falcons. Reyes hit a ground ball into the hole at first base, but the throw by Ryan Geck was wild, which allowed Briones to score. Bassett followed with an RBI single.

Two more LBCC errors in the eighth inning played a key role in the Falcons scoring three more times. Oviedo led off with a walk, while Massey reached base on a bunt single. With one out, a ground ball by Reyes went between the legs of Snakenborg, which allowed Oviedo to score. On the next play, Rios back to the mound, by Snakenborg dropped the throw, which plated Massey. Santos closed out the scoring with an RBI double.

Reyes (3-for-5), Bassett (2-for-5, RBI), Immel (2-for-4, walk, two runs) and Oviedo (2-for-2, walk, two runs) all had multiple-hit games for Cerritos.