Posted: Apr 29, 2023
On the heels of a nine-game winning streak in the last 13 days of the regular season, which propelled the Cerritos College softball team to sole possession of second place in the South Coast Conference, the team has been seeded #4 for the Southern California Regional Playoffs. The Falcons (27-12) will be hosting #13-seeded Los Angeles Mission College in a best-of-three series starting on Friday with 2:00 p.m. set for the first game.
The teams are no stranger to each other, as Cerritos eliminated the Eagles (25-15) in two games in the first round of the playoffs last season. Additionally, the Falcons recorded a 3-0 win over LA Mission back on April 8 and hold an all-time series lead of 8-0 against the Eagles.
In the game this season, the Falcons took a 1-0 lead in the second inning and added a pair of insurance runs in the fifth inning. Freshman pitcher Reanna Carranza (El Rancho HS) tossed the first 3 1/3 innings before sophomore Samantha Islas (Roosevelt HS) finished the final 3 2/3 innings to complete the shutout.
On the year, the Falcons have four starters hitting over .350, with sophomore second baseman Alyssa Sotelo (El Rancho HS) leading the way with a .404 average and shares the team lead in RBI (29), as well as a team best 17 stolen bases. Freshman catcher Jimena Velazquez (Fullerton HS) has driven in 29 runs and leads the team with five home runs while hitting at a .363 clip. Hovering around the .400 mark is sophomore first baseman Richere Leduc (California HS), who is hitting .397 and shares the team lead in double with 15 while also driving in 21 runs.
Freshman outfielder Jazmine Macias (La Mirada HS) has also clubbed 15 doubles, while hitting .354 to go along with four home runs, 24 RBI and a .354 batting average. Islas, who finished the season winning seven games over the span of nine days, is 17-6 on the year with two saves and seven complete games. She has allowed 109 hits in 121 innings and has a 2.10 ERA. Carranza has a 5-1 record with a 2.33 ERA in 55 innings. As a team, Cerritos has used five pitchers this season.
As for the Eagles, they are hitting at a .339 clip as a team, with Lily Stell the team leader in hits (53), doubles and triples (3), while she ranks second in home runs (9), RBI (41) and batting average (.390). Lizbeth Mora is another power for LA Mission who earned their Triple Crown by leading the team in batting average (.394), home runs (11) and RBI (48). Jizzell Ruiz has been the main threat on the bases, as she has stolen 21 bases without getting caught.
In the circle, Samantha Flores has seen the most action with 135 innings pitched and has a 4.19 ERA to go with her 111 strikeouts and 11-5 record with five saves. Daryanna Ductoc (6-8, 4.74 ERA) and Mora (7-1, 3.40 ERA) have also spent time in the circle.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL PLAYOFFS
Play-in Round (May 2)
#18 San Bernardino Valley (20-16) @ #15 San Diego Mesa (18-13)
#17 Chaffey (25-14) @ #16 Allan Hancock (22-14)
1st Round (Best-of-three) May 5-6
Lower remaining seed @ #1 Palomar (36-1)
Higher remaining seed @ #2 Mt. San Antonio (35-5)
#14 Pasadena City (24-16) @ #3 Cypress (34-6)
#13 Los Angeles Mission (25-15) @ #4 Cerritos (27-12)
#12 College of the Canyons (23-15) @ #5 Fullerton (26-13-1)
#11 El Camino (24-16) @ #6 Ventura (29-7-1)
#10/#9 Long Beach City (25-13-1) @ #7 Bakersfield (26-13)
#9/#10 Antelope Valley (26-14) @ #8 Santiago Canyon (23-17)
