Recently named the South Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year, freshman Nolan Patterson (Long Beach Millikan HS) tossed a complete game 3-0 shutout to lead the Cerritos College baseball team in their Southern California Regional Playoff opener. The Falcons (32-9), seeded #4, hold a 1-0 series lead over visiting Allan Hancock College, the #21-seeded team. Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, with Cerritos needing just one win to advance to the Super Regional the following weekend.

With the win by Patterson (10-1), it marks the first time in school history the Falcons have three pitchers with at least 10 wins in a season, as he joins sophomores Derek Valdez (11-2) and Noah Andrunas (10-0). It's also the first time since 2012 that any school has had three pitchers accomplish the feat, with Rio Hondo College the last to do so. That Roadrunners team boasted A.J. Gonzalez (12-0), Andrew Morales (12-1) and Bryce Rutherford (10-2).

The Bulldogs (22-19) had a pair of runners on base in the first inning, but came up empty, while a batter's interference in the third inning erased a leadoff batter getting on base. Patterson, who tossed 107 pitches on the day, limited Allan Hancock to just five hits on the day and retired the final eight batters of the game. Patterson (pictured, left) finished with five strikeouts and walked just one while pitching his fourth complete game of the year.

Cerritos scored what would be the they only run necessary in the bottom of the second inning when sophomore outfielder Isaiah Rios (St. John Bosco HS) led off with a solo blast off starting pitcher Ryan Cronk (2-2). They scored the other two runs in the third inning, thanks in part to a Bulldogs error. With two outs, Rios drew a walk, while sophomore second baseman Dylan Immel (El Segundo HS) was hit by a pitch. An error on a failed pickoff throw allowed both runners to advance. That set the table for freshman third baseman Mateo Heredia (El Segundo HS), who beat out an infield single, with Immel waved around third base to also score on the play.

In the seventh inning, the Falcons had a chance to add to their lead when they loaded the bases, but could not produce. Cerritos ended up leading 10 runners on base, with seven of them in scoring position.

Heredia reached base four times on a pair of hits and two walks, while Rios was 1-for-2 with a walk and hit by pitch.

Photos by Daryl Peterson