After concluding last season just one victory away from winning the state championship, the Cerritos College softball team opened the 2008 season by making a statement. The Falcons scored in the first three innings and ran away with an 8-2 non-conference win over Palomar College on Tuesday afternoon at Nancy Kelly Field. Cerritos (1-0) will now compete in the Glendale Tournament this weekend.

    Continuing where she left off last season, sophomore pitcher Jessica Navarro (South Gate HS) went 2-for-3 at the plate with a two-run home run in the first inning and a two-run single in the second inning, while she also pitched a complete game win and struck out five batters.

    Sophomore outfielder Capree Williams (Paramount HS) opened the bottom of the first inning with a base hit and promptly stole second and third base before sophomore shortstop Jenel Guadagno (Warren HS) drove her in with a base hit. Up next was Navarro, who blasted the first pitch from Alex Hutchinson over the right-center field wall for a home run. Last year, Navarro set a new school record with 13 home runs and 54 RBI.

    In the top of the second inning, the Comets (0-1) scored their two runs on the day, as two Cerritos errors allowed both of the runs to score. But, in the bottom of the stanza, the Falcons bats remained hot at the top of the order. Sophomore first baseman Stephanie Lomeli (Montebello HS) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, as was freshman designated player Desiree Meira (Downey HS). Freshman outfielder Carly Walters (Cathedral City HS) advanced the runners with a sacrifice, before Williams singled home Lomeli. A fielder’s choice by Guadagno drove in another run, before Navarro followed with a two-run base hit to give the Falcons a 6-2 lead.

    They closed out the scoring in the third inning, as Williams drove in sophomore catcher Nadine Garcia (Mayfair HS) when she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, before Guadagno singled home Walters with the bases still loaded.