As the Cerritos College softball team continues through their season, they can add another solid win to their ever-growing resume. On Wednesday, the Falcons (24-9) posted a 7-4 non-conference win against visiting Chaffey College (24-10). Cerritos, winners of four of their last five games, will travel to Long Beach City College tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. in a key South Coast Conference game. The Falcons are currently in second place with a 12-3 record, while the Vikings sit in third place at 12-5.

In the win over the Panthers, Cerritos opened up a 3-0 lead before allowing a single run in the fifth inning. Freshman first baseman Richere Leduc (California HS) got the inning started with a lead-off single. A one-out base hit by freshman catcher Vicky Najera (El Rancho HS), followed by a walk to freshman third baseman Brooklyn Bedolla (Mayfair HS) loaded the bases. It looked as though the Falcons were going to score several times, but Najera was ruled to have left second base early for the second out of the inning. The bases were loaded once again after freshman designated player Maddy Guillen (La Puente HS) drew a free pass, which set the table for freshman outfielder Negasse Williams (Aliso Niguel HS), who singled to drive in the lone run of the inning.

Najera opened the third inning with another walk and was able to trot around the bases after Bedolla launched her team-leading fourth home run of the season.

The Falcons responded to the single Chaffey run in the fifth inning by scoring four times with two outs. Williams got everything started with a single, followed by a double from freshman pinch-hitter Malia Pieper (St. Paul HS). Freshman shortstop Miranda Diaz (California HS) doubled in the first run of the inning, with freshman pinch-hitter Ariana Hamilton (Downey HS) following with an RBI single. Leduc finished off the scoring with a two-run single.

Freshman starting pitcher Samantha Islas (Roosevelt HS) won her 17th game of the season, as she tossed the first five innings and allowed one run on two hits and struck out five. At the plate, Williams went 3-for-3 to push her season batting average to .409.

Photos by Daryl Peterson