Just as she did all last season, Cerritos College sophomore pitcher Jessica Navarro (South Gate HS) has a knack of coming to the plate at just the right time. On Thursday, she led the Falcons to a 6-0 South Coast Conference win at East Los Angeles College by not only pitching a shutout, she also drove in four of the team’s runs. It was a bases loaded double that drove in three runs in the fifth inning that broke the game open, while she also limited the Huskies to just five hits, to run her record to 6-0 on the season. The Falcons will now have a week off before they host Long Beach City College in the team’s first home game since their season-opener on January 29th.
After four scoreless innings, Cerritos broke the game open for four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Sophomore catcher Nadine Garcia (Mayfair HS) led off with a double and stole third base. After sophomore outfielder Cecily Garcia (St. Joseph HS) laid down a pinch-hit bunt, it set the table for freshman pinch-hitter Carli Walters (Cathedral City HS), who drove in a run with a base hit.
The inning continued after sophomore outfielder Capree Williams (Paramount HS/Bethune Cookman University) walked. The first out of the inning was a fielder’s choice by sophomore shortstop Jenel Guadagno (Warren HS) that cut down Garcia at home. Navarro then followed with a three run double on a 1-2 count that cleared the bases.
It was more than enough for Navarro, the pitcher, as she allowed three hits through the first two inning and just two more the rest of the way. She also struck out five and walked two in the fifth inning when she worked out of a bases loaded situation.
The Falcons picked up their other two runs in the seventh inning, as Williams singled and stole second base, as did Guadagno, which put runners at second and third. Navarro followed with an RBI single, while sophomore first baseman Stephanie Lomeli (Montebello HS) drove in the final run on a ground out.
