Softball: Home run by Valerie Vasquez sends Cerritos to 2-1 win

Team celebrates after Valerie Vasquez home run
Team celebrates after Valerie Vasquez home run

Looking for a clutch hit late in their South Coast Conference game against visiting Mt. San Antonio College, freshman first baseman Valerie Vasquez (California HS) launched a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. The blast was all the offense the Falcons needed, as they defeated the Mounties, 2-1. Another tough test awaits Cerritos (15-5, 8-3), as they travel to El Camino College for a 3:00 p.m. conference game on Wednesday.

Trailing 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, sophomore designated player Briana Zarate (Legacy HS/Compton College) reached base when Mt. SAC first baseman Audrey White mishandled her ground ball to lead off the inning. Vasquez, who came to the plate with one of the team's two hits up until that point, sent the first offering from pitcher Samantha Vizcarra over the left field fence for her third home run of the season.

Keeping the team in the game the entire day was freshman pitcher Tatyana Cortez (La Serna HS), who tossed a complete game and struck out 11 batters. She leads the state with 128 strikeouts on the season. 

The lone run for Mt. SAC came in the top of the third inning, but not without some controversy. Mia Martin led off the inning with a bunt single and looked to steal second base. She was sent back to first base and the batter, Sarai Raygoza, was called out for batter interference. It appeared the that same thing happened with Isabella Aspeitia at the plate when she swung at a pitch well after it was in the catcher's glove. Martin was able to steal second base and Aspeitia laced a double for an RBI. Cortez then struck out Samantha Orozco and got Amanda Porterfield to foul out and end the inning.

Cerritos did have a chance to get on the board in the fifth inning when freshman outfielder Amarie Encarnacion (Norwalk HS) and freshman third baseman Marley Cortez (Gahr HS) drew two-out walks. A fielding error by Katie Griego loaded the bases, but sophomore outfielder Morgan Fontela (Long Beach Millikan HS) flew out to end the inning.

Tatyana Cortez had at least one strikeout in each inning and at one point struck out four batters in a row, while she recorded all three outs in the first inning on strikeouts.