Although it's just four games into the season, team's are starting to realize that if they don't shut down the Cerritos College baseball team early, they could be in for both a long inning and game. On Friday in the second game of the SoCal Challenge, the Falcons turned a 1-1 game into a 9-1 lead after an eight-run fifth inning put them comfortably in front against visiting Los Angeles Valley College. The end result was a 12-6 win for Cerritos (4-0), who will host Los Angeles Pierce College at noon on Saturday.

Through the first four innings against Monarchs starting pitcher Spencer Kratt, the Falcons scored one run on two hits, which came in the fourth inning. In the eight-run fifth inning, freshman third baseman Mateo Heredia (El Segundo HS) led off with a double and was safe at third base on a fielder's choice off the bat of sophomore catcher Daniel Cuadras (Warren HS/Golden West College). After the first out was recorded, freshman outfielder Owen Martin (Narbonne HS) lifted a sacrifice fly to put Cerritos in front, 2-1.

Sophomore outfielder Diego Orozco (Long Beach Wilson HS) then drew a walk before a throwing error by Monarchs third baseman Gavin Taylor allowed two more runs to score. A long single by freshman designated hitter Brody Cuellar (Bishop Montgomery HS) plated another run, who then came home on a double off the bat of freshman first baseman Wyatt Ormonde (Long Beach Millikan HS). An RBI double by Heredia drove in another run, with Cuadras closing out the scoring with an RBI single. By the end of the inning the Falcons scored their eight runs on just five hits, along with a walk, hit batter and two errors.

Sophomore starting pitcher Derek Valdez (Los Alamitos HS) tossed seven quality innings, as he allowed one run (unearned) on just three hits and struck out six batters. The bullpen encountered their troubles, but freshman AJ Gonzalez (Gahr HS) came on to pitch face three batters in the ninth inning and retired each of them.

The trio of Martin (RBI, two runs, SB), Ormonde (RBI, walk, run) and Heredia (three runs, RBI) all had a pair of hits on the day.

Photos by Daryl Peterson