The Glendale College Baseball Team is heading to the State Sectional playoffs after overpowering El Camino College 17-6 on Saturday afternoon at Kincaid Field at Cerritos College. With the win, Glendale (33-13-1) secures its spot in next weekend's best-of-three series at Mt. San Antonio College against the Mounties, where they'll battle for a berth in the 3C2A State Championship on Memorial Day weekend.

 

GCC coupled some timely pitching with a tremendous offensive output as the WSC South Champions scored 56 runs in winning three out of four games, beating El Camino 23-7 on May 8, beating Cerritos 8-3on  May 9 and lost the second game of the day Friday to El Camino 8-7. They returned to Cerritos College Saturday in the third meeting of the weekend against El Camino, racking up 13 hits and capitalizing on El Camino's five errors to plate 17 runs. Glendale's offensive output included home runs from Jordan Viramontes, Max Price, and Jackson Lyons, and a five-run third inning that broke the game wide open.

 

The Vaqueros took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning, then poured on five more in the third inning. David Lozano (two RBI), Max Price (five RBI), and Ethan Muñoz (two RBI) each delivered clutch hits as part of a solid Glendale lineup that tallied runs in the second, third, sixth, and seventh innings to put the game out of reach.   

 

Cris Banuelos (4-2) earned the win in relief, tossing five shutout innings and allowing just three hits. He took over for starter Diego Barajas, who gave up six runs (only three earned) over four innings. The pitching duo held El Camino (32-14) to nine hits and limited damage despite several early threats.

 

The Vaqueros now turn their attention to Mt. SAC, where they'll begin their sectional playoff series next Friday-Sunday, May 16-18. The winner of the best-of-three showdown will earn a trip to the 3C2A State Championships over Memorial Day weekend — and Glendale, seeded No. 5 in the playoffs,  is riding a wave of momentum, looks ready for the challenge against the top seeded Mounties.