Vikings move within one game of first place after 6-1 win over East Los Angeles

Sophomore Ryan Dickison (Pacifica HS) and Daniel Pitts (Quartz Hill HS) both smacked two-run homeruns as part of a five-run eighth inning to help lead Long Beach City College to a 6-1 South Coast Conference win over visiting East Los Angeles College on Thursday at Joe Hicks Memorial Field.

The win evens this crucial three-game SCC series with the finale to be played on Saturday (Apr 12) back at East LA at 12 p.m. Today's Long Beach win, coupled with a dramatic come-from-behind victory by Mt. SAC over Cerritos, gets the Vikings (11-6 SCC) within one game of first-place Cerritos (12-5) and East LA (12-5)  with four conference games to play.

In today's win, freshman Julian Griego (Poly HS) put together an impressive outing on the mound in just his second start of the season. He held the Huskies scoreless for seven innings until allowing a sacrifice fly by Michael Aguilar to score Kevin Rodriguez with the tying run in the top of the eighth.

But LBCC responded with a big eighth inning of its own. East LA starter Shawn Kennedy has also only allowed one run over seven innings before the Vikings finally broke the game open.

Freshman Michael Thomas (St. John Bosco HS) led off with his third single of the game and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Stefan Miladinovich (Wilson HS). Moments later, Dickison smashed a two-run homerun over the left-centerfield fence to put the Vikings back out in front 3-1.

But the rally didn't stop. Sophomore Nolan Flashman (University HS) lined a single up the middle before Pitts smacked a two-run homerun of his own to nearly the same spot to give Long Beach a four-run lead. Freshman Jordan Ybarra (Downey HS) doubled and pinch runner Jahman Washington-Ingram (Rolling Hills HS) came in to score on a passed ball to close out the rally.

Sophomore Cameron Mackenzie (Woodbridge HS) pitched a perfect ninth inning for LBCC (14-14) to close out the victory.

Griego (2-0) allowed one run and scattered seven hits over eight innings to pick up the win. He struck out eight and walked three. Pitts went 3 for 4 with a homerun, a triple, and 2 RBI to pace the Vikings' offense.

For East LA (20-10), Kennedy took the loss to fall to 7-3. He gave up four runs and 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings.