Knowing they needed to win twice against visiting Fullerton College on Saturday, the Cerritos College softball team did just that, as they recorded 4-1 and 6-2 wins. The victories advance the Falcons (31-14) to the 3C2A State Tournament for the first time since 2009. The team will open the state championships on Thursday at Mt. San Antonio College against the #1-seeded team from Northern California, Sierra College (42-3).

Game 2 - In a must-win situation, Cerritos turned to sophomore pitcher Samantha Islas (Roosevelt HS), who tossed a complete game four-hitter, while sophomore third baseman Brooklyn Bedolla (Mayfair HS) powered the offense with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie. The Falcons added two insurance runs in the sixth inning to seal the victory. Fullerton opened the scoring in the second inning when Alyssa Garcia clubbed a solo home run. After leaving a pair of runners on base in the previous inning, Cerritos tied the game in the bottom of the third inning, as sophomore outfielder Alyssa Capps (Downey HS) reached on an error, stole second base and scored on a double from freshman outfielder Jazmine Macias (La Mirada HS).

Bedolla (above, right), who would go on to lead the team in the third game, clubbed a leadoff home run, in what turned out to be the winning run. In the sixth, Bedolla reached on a throwing error, stole second base and after sophomore shortstop Miranda Diaz (California HS) reached on an infield single, the Falcons had runners at first and second. Freshman catcher Jimena Velazquez (Fullerton HS) came through in the clutch with an RBI single, while sophomore designated player Maddy Guillen (La Puente HS) reached on a fielder's choice, which plated Diaz.

Islas (above, left) worked out of jams in the fifth and sixth innings, as the Hornets stranded two runners in both stanzas, while she retired the side in the seventh to close out the win.

Game 3 - With the winner advancing to the state championships, Cerritos jumped on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, as they were the designated visting team. Sophomore second baseman Alyssa Sotelo (El Rancho HS) led off with a walk and stole second base with one out. She moved to third when sophomore first baseman Richere Leduc (California HS) reached on a fielding error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Velazquez. Bedolla then drove in Leduc, who stole second base with two outs to get into scoring position.

Just as she did in the first game, Islas was dominant when necessary. With the Falcons leading, 3-0 after a Bedolla sacrifice fly, the Hornets did push single runs across the plate in the third and fourth innings. But in the final three innings, she surrendered just two hits and saw the team close out the weekend with a game-ending double play.

Late-inning runs benefitted the Falcons once again, and once again, is was off the bat of Bedolla. After Leduc doubled in Sotelo with one out, Bedolla crushed a two-out pitch for a two-run home run, which gave her four of the team's RBI in the game and five on the day.

Photos by Daryl Peterson