Sierra College proved the 3-2 victory in Game One of the state tournament versus the Cerritos College softball team was not a fluke.
Cerritos faced Sierra Saturday in a rematch and this time, Cerritos had no chance as it was eliminated from the tournament,8-1.
After Sierra sent Cerritos into the loser's bracket in their first meeting, Cerritos was forced to win six straight games to win the championship.
On day two of the tournament, Cerritos beat Riverside and Cypress but fell short again to Sierra.
The Falcons were able to get a quick 7-0 lead on Riverside and win, 10-4.
But it was the second game of the day versus Cypress that might have been the deciding factor in Cerritos' elimination.
Although the Falcons beat Cypress, 11-10, in walk-off fashion in 11 innings, they paid a price as Pitcher Hillary Perez-Ashley finished with a total of 20 innings pitched for the day.
Perez-Ashley was asked to start the third game of the day versus Sierra. With the short rest in between games, she allowed five runs in four innings.
Cerritos' offense gave a mere contribution as well with only three hits in the losing cause.
Sierra went on to lose in the championship game on Sunday against Mt.San Antonio.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Softball team sent to loser bracket
Outfielder Jennifer Salas was up to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning with two runners on base with no outs. The stage was set for the walk off victory.
Salas, who hit a two-run homerun in the fourth inning, managed to hit a soft line drive out resulting in a baserunning blunder leading to a game ending triple play by Sierra College sending the Cerritos College softball team to the losers bracket in the state tournament on Friday.
The 3-2 loss in the first round snaps the Falcons' 14-game winning streak and forces Cerritos to win six games on Saturday and Sunday to win the state championship.
The last time a team accomplished that feat was in 1985 when Santa Ana was able to win the title after losing the first game.
Earlier this season when the Falcons were beating teams by double-digits, I wrote an article saying this wouldn't happen in the postseason. I went on to say that this young team would not be ready to handle close games in the playoffs.
It comes to no surprise that the deficit of Game One of the state tournament was by one run.
Sixty percent of the Falcons' losses this year have been by one run.
Pitcher HIllary Perez-Ashley suffered a loss and allowed two homeruns including one to the state's homerun leader, third baseman Rochel Vanyi.
The Falcons will face Riverside in an elimination game on Saturday at noon. They faced Riverside on March 27 and lost. Guess how much they lost by...you have a 60 percent chance of getting it.
Salas, who hit a two-run homerun in the fourth inning, managed to hit a soft line drive out resulting in a baserunning blunder leading to a game ending triple play by Sierra College sending the Cerritos College softball team to the losers bracket in the state tournament on Friday.
The 3-2 loss in the first round snaps the Falcons' 14-game winning streak and forces Cerritos to win six games on Saturday and Sunday to win the state championship.
The last time a team accomplished that feat was in 1985 when Santa Ana was able to win the title after losing the first game.
Earlier this season when the Falcons were beating teams by double-digits, I wrote an article saying this wouldn't happen in the postseason. I went on to say that this young team would not be ready to handle close games in the playoffs.
It comes to no surprise that the deficit of Game One of the state tournament was by one run.
Sixty percent of the Falcons' losses this year have been by one run.
Pitcher HIllary Perez-Ashley suffered a loss and allowed two homeruns including one to the state's homerun leader, third baseman Rochel Vanyi.
The Falcons will face Riverside in an elimination game on Saturday at noon. They faced Riverside on March 27 and lost. Guess how much they lost by...you have a 60 percent chance of getting it.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
No National Anthem...again
Prior to starting game two of of the first round playoff series between the Cerritos College softball team and Ventura, the United States National Anthem failed to play on Sunday.
The players and coaches were introduced and each team stood down the baseline waiting for the national anthem to play and it never did.
Last Fall, at a Cerritos College football game, there was no National Anthem played as well.
One begins to wonder how many times it's not being played. I have not attended every single Cerritos sporting event but it makes me wonder how many times they've done it.
The National Anthem means much more to others than just a routine song before a game.
Many veterans take the anthem seriously and it has a big impact for them if it isn't played prior to a game. Many feel disrespected
The players and coaches were introduced and each team stood down the baseline waiting for the national anthem to play and it never did.
Last Fall, at a Cerritos College football game, there was no National Anthem played as well.
One begins to wonder how many times it's not being played. I have not attended every single Cerritos sporting event but it makes me wonder how many times they've done it.
The National Anthem means much more to others than just a routine song before a game.
Many veterans take the anthem seriously and it has a big impact for them if it isn't played prior to a game. Many feel disrespected
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Falcons face biggest test of the year
For the Cerritos College softball team, its next game will be the most important one of the season.
The game at Mt. SAC on Thursday, will make or break the Falcons season. A lot of pressure is on as playoffs are approaching in less than three weeks.
The match-up will mark the third and final game of the regular season before the playoffs. The season series is tied, 1-1, after the Mounties stole one from the Falcons in their own backyard on March 24 and ended Cerritos' seven-game winning streak. And let's not forget handing the Falcons their one and only SCC loss.
To make the game a little more interesting, one team will be forced to get its winning streak snapped. Cerritos will enter Thursday's game with a five-game winning streak and Mt. SAC with seven straight.
If that's not enough then maybe the fact that these teams faced each other in last year's championship, which Cerritos won, can make it just a little bit more interesting.
Perhaps the Mounties victory over the Falcons in their last meeting was a fluke, but if they were to do it again, then the Falcons' reputation of being this powerhouse might be tarnished and Mt. SAC would be the new team-to-beat in the SCC.
Now the question is: "Why wouldn't the Mounties win?"
The advantage is on their side. Even though Cerritos has some momentum after beating East LA on Tuesday, the Mounties' momentum is greater and has been growing since March 19. Aside from winning seven consecutive games, Mt. SAC has won 12 of the last 13 games.
The key player to this game will be Cerritos' ace pitcher, Hillary Perez-Ashley. Perez-Ashley gave up three home-runs in the last meeting which nearly matched her season total of four. Perez-Ashley will have to endure the pressure of facing the team that handed her the worst outing of the season.
The game at Mt. SAC on Thursday, will make or break the Falcons season. A lot of pressure is on as playoffs are approaching in less than three weeks.
The match-up will mark the third and final game of the regular season before the playoffs. The season series is tied, 1-1, after the Mounties stole one from the Falcons in their own backyard on March 24 and ended Cerritos' seven-game winning streak. And let's not forget handing the Falcons their one and only SCC loss.
To make the game a little more interesting, one team will be forced to get its winning streak snapped. Cerritos will enter Thursday's game with a five-game winning streak and Mt. SAC with seven straight.
If that's not enough then maybe the fact that these teams faced each other in last year's championship, which Cerritos won, can make it just a little bit more interesting.
Perhaps the Mounties victory over the Falcons in their last meeting was a fluke, but if they were to do it again, then the Falcons' reputation of being this powerhouse might be tarnished and Mt. SAC would be the new team-to-beat in the SCC.
Now the question is: "Why wouldn't the Mounties win?"
The advantage is on their side. Even though Cerritos has some momentum after beating East LA on Tuesday, the Mounties' momentum is greater and has been growing since March 19. Aside from winning seven consecutive games, Mt. SAC has won 12 of the last 13 games.
The key player to this game will be Cerritos' ace pitcher, Hillary Perez-Ashley. Perez-Ashley gave up three home-runs in the last meeting which nearly matched her season total of four. Perez-Ashley will have to endure the pressure of facing the team that handed her the worst outing of the season.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Softball holding strong
Apparently, the Cerritos College softball team wasn't finished riding the roller coaster.
Just when doubt was in the air after losing another close game over the weekend to Saddleback, 4-3, the Falcons proved why they should still be a championship contender.
Cerritos participated in the San Diego City Tournament and played five games over the weekend. Aside from the tough loss to Saddleback, Cerritos won four of the five games in an impressive fashion including a one-run victory.
The results of this weekend are:
Saddleback L, 4-3
Oxnard W, 12-1
Orange Coast W, 10-2
Grossmont W, 14-0
Fullerton W, 4-3
Momentum is beginning to ride the Falcons way once again after a rough end of March. They are on the verge of clinching the SCC title and are currently on a four-game winning streak.
Cerritos has a couple obstacles to overcome the next three weeks of the regular season.
The Falcons will have to protect a feeble two-game lead over Mt. SAC who is currently in second place in the SCC. In the six-game stretch, Cerritos will travel to face a hungry Mt. SAC team who defeated the Falcons in their last meeting at Cerritos and Pasadena City where it escaped with a one-run win last Thursday.
If Cerritos does in fact overcome the obstacles ahead, teams should be worried about facing it in the playoffs.
Just when doubt was in the air after losing another close game over the weekend to Saddleback, 4-3, the Falcons proved why they should still be a championship contender.
Cerritos participated in the San Diego City Tournament and played five games over the weekend. Aside from the tough loss to Saddleback, Cerritos won four of the five games in an impressive fashion including a one-run victory.
The results of this weekend are:
Saddleback L, 4-3
Oxnard W, 12-1
Orange Coast W, 10-2
Grossmont W, 14-0
Fullerton W, 4-3
Momentum is beginning to ride the Falcons way once again after a rough end of March. They are on the verge of clinching the SCC title and are currently on a four-game winning streak.
Cerritos has a couple obstacles to overcome the next three weeks of the regular season.
The Falcons will have to protect a feeble two-game lead over Mt. SAC who is currently in second place in the SCC. In the six-game stretch, Cerritos will travel to face a hungry Mt. SAC team who defeated the Falcons in their last meeting at Cerritos and Pasadena City where it escaped with a one-run win last Thursday.
If Cerritos does in fact overcome the obstacles ahead, teams should be worried about facing it in the playoffs.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Lose close, win big
And so the pattern continues.
One day after winning a surprising close game, the Cerritos College softball team lost another one-run game and followed it up with a big win this past weekend.
Cerritos fell short to Saddleback, 4-3, on Friday. After the tough loss to Saddleback, the Falcons bounced back beating Grossmont, 15-0, in five innings on Saturday.
Just when Cerritos looked like it was improving its ability to come out of close games with a victory, it proved once again that it can't.
Out of the nine losses Cerritos has suffered this year, five have been by one run.
There are only six games left in the regular season before playoffs and the Falcons can't expect to get the second chances they've been getting after their losses.
"Go big or go home" is what best describes the Falcons.
By the looks of it, if they aren't leading teams by more than eight runs, they are definitely going home early this postseason.
One day after winning a surprising close game, the Cerritos College softball team lost another one-run game and followed it up with a big win this past weekend.
Cerritos fell short to Saddleback, 4-3, on Friday. After the tough loss to Saddleback, the Falcons bounced back beating Grossmont, 15-0, in five innings on Saturday.
Just when Cerritos looked like it was improving its ability to come out of close games with a victory, it proved once again that it can't.
Out of the nine losses Cerritos has suffered this year, five have been by one run.
There are only six games left in the regular season before playoffs and the Falcons can't expect to get the second chances they've been getting after their losses.
"Go big or go home" is what best describes the Falcons.
By the looks of it, if they aren't leading teams by more than eight runs, they are definitely going home early this postseason.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Softball rides roller coaster in March
Although the Cerritos College softball team is 11-1 and currently in first place of the SCC, there is no way it can feel comfortable after the roller coaster month of March it had.
Once again, the young Falcon squad was put in a position to prove it is a worthy team.
The Falcons responded with a close 4-3 victory over Pasadena on Thursday after dropping four of the last six including a three-game skid.
Fresh off winning seven in a row and leading the ranks in the latest poll, the Falcons lost three in a row including the third loss handed by rival Mt. San Antonio, 9-4, on March 24.
The loss to Mt. SAC marked the first SCC loss for the Falcons and split the season series so far between both schools, 1-1.
It seemed as if Cerritos ran out of steam after it was demolishing teams by more than nine runs.
After losing to Mt. SAC, Cerritos responded like it has done all season, by killing its opponent, beating El Camino, 15-2.
Cerritos did something else it has done all season: Lose the close game. Following the blowout, Cerritos suffered a one-run loss to Riverside, 2-1.
But knowing the young zealous crew, it shut-out its next opponent, 10-0.
Because of the pattern the Falcons were falling into, the 4-3 result between Cerritos and Pasadena City on Thursday was most likely going in the favor of PCC.
However the Falcons are maturing and it is evident as they were the ones that walked away with a rare one-run victory.
Perhaps the Falcons needed the wake-up call to help them realize that they can't beat every team by nine.
The performance by Cerritos in the month of April will determine how well-prepared the Falcons really are for the Southern California Regionals.
Once again, the young Falcon squad was put in a position to prove it is a worthy team.
The Falcons responded with a close 4-3 victory over Pasadena on Thursday after dropping four of the last six including a three-game skid.
Fresh off winning seven in a row and leading the ranks in the latest poll, the Falcons lost three in a row including the third loss handed by rival Mt. San Antonio, 9-4, on March 24.
The loss to Mt. SAC marked the first SCC loss for the Falcons and split the season series so far between both schools, 1-1.
It seemed as if Cerritos ran out of steam after it was demolishing teams by more than nine runs.
After losing to Mt. SAC, Cerritos responded like it has done all season, by killing its opponent, beating El Camino, 15-2.
Cerritos did something else it has done all season: Lose the close game. Following the blowout, Cerritos suffered a one-run loss to Riverside, 2-1.
But knowing the young zealous crew, it shut-out its next opponent, 10-0.
Because of the pattern the Falcons were falling into, the 4-3 result between Cerritos and Pasadena City on Thursday was most likely going in the favor of PCC.
However the Falcons are maturing and it is evident as they were the ones that walked away with a rare one-run victory.
Perhaps the Falcons needed the wake-up call to help them realize that they can't beat every team by nine.
The performance by Cerritos in the month of April will determine how well-prepared the Falcons really are for the Southern California Regionals.
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