The Compton College baseball team picked the right time to win its first games of the 2025 season as it swept its 3-game series v. Los Angeles Harbor College that opened South Coast Conference play Feb. 18-22. At least for a few days, Compton sits in a tie with Mt. San Antonio for first place in the conference at 3-0.
Compton completed its sweep over LA Harbor with a lopsided 25-8 road rout over the Seahawks on Saturday.
A 22-hit attack, included eight runs in the second inning, and seven scord in both the fourth and seventh frames. Second baseman Ian Wilson batted 4-for-6 with four runs and three RBI, catcher Landyn Thomas went 3-for-4 with three RBI, slugging a 2-run homer in the fourth, and centerfielder Kevin Ramirez batted 3-for-4 with a double.
Also in the barrage, designated hitter Zaid Humphrey launched a 2-run HR in the third and finished 2-for-5 with four runs and three RBI. Third baseman Quincy Quintero batted 2-for-3 with a double, two walks and three RBI, leftfielder and leadoff hitter Nathan Dodero was 2-for-6, including two doubles, four runs and two RBI, First baseman Anthony Macias and shortstop Corey Guy each knocked in three runs.
Reliever Elijah Belden (three innings, three hits, two unearned runs) was the winning pitcher for the second time in the series. Justin Bryant and Joseph Stangl pitched a scoreless inning each to close things out.
Compton (3-8 overall) started the SCC 24-game schedule in banging out 19 hits in a 12-5 win at Harbor. The niners scored four runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to break things open.
Thomas batted 3-for-5 with four RBI, rightfielder Deegan Grgas was 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the fifth plus drew two walks, Guy went 2-for-5 with two doubles, third baseman Quintero delivered a 3-for-6 day, Ramirez hit 2-for-3 with a RBI triple, and centerfielder Amaree Burnett totaled 2-for-4.
Delton Prinze II was solid in his mound start in pitching 4.1 innings, allowing just four hits, one run, and striking out five while winning reliever Belden hurled 2.2, no-hit shutout frames. Brian Munoz closed things on 1.2 scoreless innings.
In the second game at Compton, the C squad made a stirring ninth-inning rally from down 5-2 to win in a walk-off, 6-5. Compton loaded the bases on singles by Guy, catcher Ezekiel Cornett, and Dodero, then Quintero drew a run-scoring walk. Grgas followed with a 2-RBI double to tie it. Still with no one out, Wilson delivered the game-winning single up the middle, scoring Cordero.
Dodero batted a perfect 4-for-4 out of the leadoff spot, Grgas went 3-for-5 with three ribbies, Cornett was 2-for-2 and Quintero hit 2-for-4. Compton received another stellar start by Gabriel Lizarraga, who pitched 6.1 innings of 7-hit ball, allowing just two runs, three walks and recording five Ks. Eric Vasquez earned the win in relief with a scoreless top of the ninth.
Dodero is the current batting leader in the SCC with a .485 average, good enough for eighth in the state.
Coach Shannon Williams' team has a tough challenge next week when it begins a 3-game series v. preseason SoCal #3-ranked Cerritos. The opener is at Compton's home diamond--Major League Baseball Youth Academy--on campus on Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. Cerritos is 11-2 overall and had a bye in the 9-team conference and thus plays its South Coast opener.