El Cerrito Gauchos (El Cerrito, CA) fans exited the stadium thrilled Tuesday as they observed their baseball squad hold off the visiting Albany Cougars (Albany, CA), 8-7 in a non-league test.

With the win, El Cerrito upgrades its record to 16-9 on the season. The Gauchos travel to Miramonte (Orinda, CA) to battle the Matadors in a non-league test on Friday, May 22. The Matadors come into the test with a record of 20-3. Miramonte won 4-0 in their recent league test against Alhambra (Martinez, CA)

With the defeat, Albany falls to 16-9 on the season.

The Cougars met the El Cerrito Gauchos for the third time this season in the opening round of the North Coast Section playoffs, and for the third time the Gauchos produced the winning margin in their last at bat, this time prevailing 8-7 in 8 innings. The Cougars roared ahead in the 1st scoring 4 runs all after two outs led by Jr. David Teel’s double to drive in Jr. Ellis Stephney and So. Myles Babbitt with the first two runs of the game. So. Myles Rabin singled in Teel and Sr. Clifton Brown's walk brought So. Daniel Supple who had singled. The Cougars maintained a 4 run lead after the Gauchos scored one in the 2nd , the Cougars put another run on the board in the 4th when Sr. Johnny Hicks tripled to right center to start off the inning. He later scored on a Myles Babbitt ground out. Stephney pitched well but ran into trouble in the 4th. Petri came in and battled as did Supple in the last two innings, but it was not to be as not being able to make routine plays haunted the Cougars.