All photos taken by Alexis Naucler
Posted: April 29, 2015 | Updated: May 5, 2015 | Written by Edith Noriega
NORWALK — Don’t put your mitts, cleats and bats away just yet there is still Riverside City College baseball to be played.
After back-to-back losses against Golden West College in the regular season the Tigers were sure to have been eliminated from postseason play, but sure enough RCC was able to squeeze in as the No. 18 seed.
The Tigers began the 2015 Southern California Regional single elimination play-in game beating No. 15 seed Cerritos College, 6-2.
This was the first meeting of the year between the Tigers and Falcons since 2001.
The Tigers got off to a quick 2-0 lead with home runs to left field by Brody Weiss in the first inning and Tommy Pincin in the second inning.
RCC then shocked us again with another offensive spark with Weiss single to left center to start the top of the third inning. Israel Fuentes also singled to right center advancing Weiss to second.
The Falcons then walked David Schuknecht to load the bases.
With bases loaded on a full count Garrett Dean struck out swinging for the second out.
That wasn’t all for the Tigers with Pincin up to bat as he RBI singled up the middle bringing in Weiss and Fuentes.
After a crucial pitching change for Cerritos Anthony Ayala kept the scoring alive with a single to left field bring in Schuknecht extending the Tigers lead to 4-0.
RCC starting pitcher Angel Delgado only allowed run came after walking the lead batter, Mark Pena for the Falcons in the bottom of the third. Gary James singled up the middle while Pena scored.
“I forced contact to hitters and not give in,” Delgado said. “I can improve on getting ahead on hitters and not waste any time, just go right after hitters.”
Delgado pitched 98 pitches 63 strikes in seven complete innings, allowed six hits and two walks shutting down the Falcons.
The Falcons last chance to shine ended in the eighth inning with a triple to right field by Gary James followed by a sac fly by Jesse Perdomo giving the final 6-2 score.
“It feels pretty good knocking out the second place team in (South Coast) division,” Pincin said. “We came off a bumpy season but we’re happy we got a second life and we are trying to make the most of it.”
The Tigers now advance to a best 2 out of 3 series against No. 1 seed Palomar College on May 1-2.
“We get to play the No. 1 seed. It is exciting and we can’t wait to do that,” Pincin explained. “We are going to give them everything we got.”
CORRECTION: Dateline was originally posted as Cerritos, it has been changed to Norwalk where Cerritos College is located.
