For 40 games in the regular season, the Pasadena City College baseball team relied on its ability to manufacture runs whether it was small ball or long ball. On Friday and Saturday, the Lancers ran into a Glendale pitching staff that silenced their offense and eliminated them in the SoCal Regional Playoffs with 4-2 and 4-0 victories.
Another impressive year by the Lancers closes at 25-17 with their 17 wins in the South Coast Conference (second place) the most in their history in the league (since 1987). PCC made it to the postseason for the fifth straight season.
The series resembled the 2019 regionals when El Camino limited that team to just 11 hits and one run in two games. Against #7 seed Glendale, the #18 Lancers mustered only 11 hits and two runs.
PCC head coach Pat McGee said, "Give Glendale credit. It wasn't just that we couldn't get our offense going, we couldn't even draw walks. They outplayed us, but our pitching staff did a great job and kept us in both games. We hit the ball hard in the second game, but Glendale's defense made a number of great plays."
In the opener, three Vaquero pitchers did not allow a single walk. In two games, PCC drew five total free passes, three on walks and two hit-by-pitches. The Lancers lead the state in walks (261) and averaged 6.5 in the regular season to go with 58 HBPs.
In the opener, starter and losing pitcher Coleman Mitchell hurled six strong innings, but was hurt by an infield miscue. PCC had taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth when third baseman Toshiki Kuriya singled, South Coast Conference MVP Jakob Guardado doubled and centerfielder Tommy Castillo singled in Kuriya.
In the bottom of the sixth, Mitchell appeared to keep the lead intact but with two outs and bases loaded, usually sure-handed, freshman shortstop Jack Esguerra made an error that allowed two runners to score. Glendale took the lead for good at that point at 3-2.
Esguerra (RBI grounder in third inning), Kuriya and rightfielder Damien Ureta each had two hits while Castillo was 1-for-3 and a stolen base. PCC had a 6-game win streak snapped.
In game 2, Glendale starter Julian Jaramillo had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning but Castillo spoiled the bid with a 2-out single. In the ninth, PCC had one last attempt to score when Kuriya reached on an error and Ureta singled. But with runners on first and third, Vaqueros closer Tobias Plotkin struck out Castillo to preserve the shutout and end the Lancers season.
PCC had some strong defensive plays including a double play on a catch by Castillo and throw home to catcher Matt Rice to cut down a runner in the fifth. Leftfielder Aryonis Harrison made a leaping catch near the fence in the seventh. Like Mitchell, Guardado pitched six strong innings and for the second day in a row closer Rider Gardner pitched a scoreless inning of relief.
Ureta was the lone Lancer with a strong hitting series, batting 3-for-7.
First baseman Jake Trabbie (hit .343) finished the season leading the team in hits (59), doubles (20, school record), triples (four), and RBI (46). Kuriya was the team's batting leader at .347 and tied with designated hitter Patrick Garcia for tops in home runs (six) while topping all PCC batters in on-base percentage at .468. Harrison hit .301 (.464 on-base), set the school record for walks (42), was just one run from tying the PCC record for runs scored (52 plated), and was the first Lancer to steal as many as 20 bases (21) in 14 years.
Mitchell, a 2-time, All-SCC starter, finished with an 8-4 record and a 3.10 ERA. Gardner appeared in 21 games, recorded a 2.60 ERA with two victories and a region-high nine saves.
Team-wise, 11 players reached 10 or more in both RBI and walks, 10 had 20 or more hits, seven batted .300 or better, while 13 players scored 11 or more runs. The Lancers were tied for third in the state in fielding percentage (.974) and the pitching staff allowed the third fewest walks in the state (115), best in the SoCal Region.
PCC's 24 home runs and 41 stolen bases are program highs under McGee. The team was 14th in the state in on-base percentage (.413) and eighth in both sacrifice bunts (36) and sac fly balls for RBI (29).
"We had a tremendous group of sophomores with a number of guys who stuck with the program through COVID," McGee said. "We were in the conference title race untll the last day of the regular season. It's hard now for players and coaches, but we can look back on a truly successful season. Players like Trabbie, Guardado, Harrison, Kuriya, Mitchell, and Gardner played with a lot of heart and I'm proud of their accomplishments and growth as young men."
