For the 13th season in a row, the Cerritos College softball team has qualified for the Southern California Regional Playoffs. The Falcons (20-19), who finished in second place in the South Coast Conference South Division, were seeded #17 out of the 18 teams, and will travel to face #16-seeded Orange Coast College, who came in sixth place in the Orange Empire Conference. The game will take place on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. The winner will take on either #1-seeded Mt. San Antonio College or #2-seeded Cypress College in a best-of-three series over the weekend.

This will be the second meeting between the two teams this season, with Orange Coast posting a close 6-5 win back on April 6. In that game, the Falcons were trailing 6-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning. Sophomore shortstop Tena Spoolstra led off with a walk and advanced to second base on a fly out. With two outs, sophomore designated player Kayla Hernandez singled in Spoolstra. A double by freshman outfielder Itzel Soto put runners at second and third base, with sophomore outfielder Victoria Medina bringing the Falcons within a run with her two-run double. They were unable to extend the game, as the final out was recorded.

The Falcons are led by Spoolstra (.431 avg., state-leading 41 stolen bases), sophomore forst baseman Keira Bolinas (.404, 3 HR, 37 RBI), Hernandez (4 HR. 42 RBI) and Soto (.393, 22 RBI) at the plate, while the trio of sophomores Sierra Gerdts (9-3, 2.59 ERA) and Ally Udell (2-4), along with freshman Skyler Swearingen (8-12, 52 K's) have led the team in the circle.

As for the Pirates, they are led at the plate by Madison LeClaire (.340, 20 RBI), Madison Taylor (.326), Janae Gomez (.320, 12 RBI) and Liana Castro (.296, 6 HR, 22 RBI, 16 walks). Just like the Falcons, Orange Coast has used a trio of pitches that include Bronwyn Jarvis (7-6, 3.23 ERA, 63 K's), Jordyn East (6-9, 3.56 ERA, 66 K's) and Sarah Ramirez (7-3).

PLAY-IN GAMES (Tuesday, April 30)

#18 Ventura (22-16) @ #15 Southwestern (25-14)
#17 Cerritos (20-19) @ #16 Orange Coast (20-20)

1ST ROUND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL PLAYOFFS (BEST-OF-3 SERIES)

Lowest Remaining Seed @ #1 Mt. San Antonio (36-4)
Second Lowest Remaining Seed @ #2 Cypress (34-6)
#14 Citrus (21-19) @ #3 Palomar (33-5)
#13 San Diego Mesa (28-10) @ #4 El Camino (34-6)
#12 College of the Canyons (23-17) @ #5 Fullerton (33-6)
#10 Santa Ana (24-14) @ #6 Antelope Valley (31-9)
#11 Bakersfield (24-16) @ #7 Riverside City (26-13)
#9 Pasadena City (26-14) @ #8 Santiago Canyon (23-16-1)