Baseball: Five Falcons earn 1st Team honors

George Mendoza was one of five Falcons to earn 1st Team honots
George Mendoza was one of five Falcons to earn 1st Team honots

After coming in second place in the South Coast Conference, five members of the Cerritos College baseball team were named 1st Team all-conference. The Falcons (22-14) are preparing to open post-season play and are hosting Riverside City College at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Kincaid Field.

Leading the list of selections were three sophomore pitchers. Kyle Carpenter (Mayfair HS), who was a 1st Team selection his freshman season, was named 1st Team utility after posting a 4-1 record with one save and an 0.63 ERA in conference play on the mound. He was limited at the plate due to an injury, but had a pair of doubles and drove in three runs. Ryan Arambula (Bel Gardens HS) went 3-4 as a starting pitcher with a 3.47 ERA on conference play and posted 29 strikeouts. Relief pitcher George Mendoza (Bell Gardens HS) had a great conference season, as he went 1-0 with three saves and a 1.71 ERA. He came on in relief in nine of the team's conference wins this year.

One of the most feared batters in the conference, sophomore third baseman Victor Guadalupe (La Quinta HS), batted .299 with four home runs and 20 RBI at the plate to go along with a .945 fielding percentage in during SCC play. Freshman outfielder Mark Pena (Bell Gardens HS) led the team with a .391 batting average and had hits in the final 10 conference games, including six multiple-hit games.

Receiving honorable mention recognition were sophomore second baseman Justin Walsh (Katella HS), freshman catcher Gary James (Sunny Hills HS) and freshman closer Jerald Johnston (California HS). Walsh missed the last nine games due to a broken hand, but batted .211 with six walks and a perfect fielding percentage before his injury. James started every game behind the plate and hit at a .253 clip with 11 RBI and threw out seven base stealers. Johnston was 1-0 with three saves and a 1.38 ERA in SCC play.