Gauchos to Face Cerritos in Final

Saddleback is a victory away from reaching the state tournament after defeating Cerritos, 6-3, in a regional baseball playoff game Saturday at Saddleback College.

The Gauchos (36-9) will advance to the state finals if they win today. They play Cerritos at 11 a.m.

Cerritos made it back to the championship game by eliminating Citrus, 20-11.

Cerritos must beat Saddleback twice to reach the state tournament, which starts Saturday in Fresno.

Pitcher Keoka Colon was the winner, striking out 11 in eight-plus innings for for Saddleback. He is 5-1, including 2-0 in the playoffs.

Pat Versluis got his first save of the season despite trouble in the ninth.

With two runners on base, Versluis retired Miguel Ortega on a foul pop up. Versluis then hit Joe Perry to load the bases.

George Pena to hit the ball back to Versluis, who turned a double play to end the game. It was the 11th consecutive victory for Saddleback.

Cerritos (31-11) took a 3-0 lead on Ortega’s two-run homer in the fourth. Saddleback scored five runs in the fifth.

Greg Pines capped the inning with a two-run homer, which broke a 3-3 tie. It was the 13th home run for the freshman designated hitter.

Clare Langford started the rally with a single to left and took third on a single to right by Denny Seybert, who was caught off first when he made too big of a turn.

Brian Griffin, who walked, and Langford scored when Nick Punto doubled to left. Jason Marian singled Punto to third.

Punto scored to tie it, 3-3, when Kirk Bolling hit into a force play.

Punto doubled to center to score Seybert, who singled with one out in the sixth.

In another game:

Citrus 9, Cypress 8--Kevin Johnston opened the ninth with a home run for Citrus. Citrus led after three innings, 6-1, but Cypress finally tied the score, 8-8, when Brandon Smith hit his 14th home run to start the seventh inning.

Brandon Pack had two home runs and four RBIs for Cypress (24-23).