After a long baseball regular season of ups and downs, the Falcons have finished in a three-way tie for second place in conference (with El Camino College and Mt. San Antonio) and have made the playoffs.
The team has recently received some individual achievements and has been on a roll as its season came to a close.
Hot hitting has been the main ingredient in the Falcon mix including contributions from Brian Gaylord, SCC Player of the Year Joe Terry, Jacob Eaton, and Paul Hayes.
There is a lot of confidence heading in to the playoffs for the Falcons, winning seven of its last eight games.
Cerritos will play an away playoff game at Mt. Sac Jacinto Friday afternoon, facing a team that Cerritos has not played since 2006, although the Falcons did win 15-0 in that last ball game.
Although the Falcons will have to play an 11 a.m. game on Saturday morning, if it is necessary, the team will have to play the final game within a half hour of the first game. Cerritos has proven to be a young but, very talented team with all of the statistics and awards won.
“A state championship will always be the goal but we have to take each game at a time and play strong in order to have a chance,” said pitcher/outfielder George Sanchez, who, was announced as a first team all conference players.
The Falcons have also proven to be a good team playing on the road and will have to do so again as they face a team who won the Foothill Conference Championship and finished its season with a 31-10 record.
Cerritos pitching staff will also have to be aware of the Eagles’ hitting staff, including sophomore for Mt. San Jacinto John Eshleman, who recorded 75 hits this season.
“Our team has the game experience and talent to compete at the highest level and will have to play as we practice in order to have a strong chance,” stated Brooks.
The consistent bats that Cerritos has shown as of late will have to coincide with the defense necessary to win in a playoff series.
Playoff games differ from the sloppy fast pace of regular season play.
There will be no room for error going up against a confident Mt. San Jacinto ball team.
Cerritos will have to be as ready and confident at the plate as it has been all season, facing the Eagles’ strong pitching staff, including BJ Salsbury.
Salsbury finished the season with a 13-0 record and completed nine games; he also had an astonishing ERA of 1.93.
The Eagles also have a strong pitcher in Drew Madrigal who had 125 strikeouts this season.
Regardless of the team the Falcons face this weekend, Cerritos will be ready to play hard and confidently, and will need the support all Falcons during this playoff push.
