Baseball 2017 Preview: Lancers Talent Stands Out

Pasadena City College third-year baseball head coach Pat McGee will model his 2017 Lancers differently than his first two squads. Last year's high-octane offense will change more to one that manufactures runs through a variety of ways. And for the first time, PCC's pitching is deep in reliable arms.

While several key players from last year have moved on with scholarships including All-South Coast Conference First Team first baseman Joe Quire (Azusa Pacific University) and catcher Justin Cage (Curry College, Mass.), McGee brings back two prominent starters in All-SCC First Team designated hitter Jeremy Conant, now the first baseman, and talented shortstop Alex Briggs, who has already signed a scholarship to attend Long Island University (Brooklyn, NY). The pair were the only Lancers to play in all 36 games last season. 

Conant was the 2016 team leader in home runs (4), RBI (27) and total hits (61) while batting .377. Briggs, who hit .252 with 19 RBI, led the squad in runs scored (34) and defensive assists (124). Briggs turned 21 double plays as one of the conference's best defensive middle infielders. 

"For the first time in three years here, I can say that I have two true sophomore leaders," McGee said. "I have great faith in the sophomore leadership. They have earned the respect of their teammates and coaching staff as a result of their tremendous work ethic and character. Conant is one of the state's best hitters, and we expect Briggs to be a force at the plate this year."

Also part of McGee's starting nine features returning DH from the '15 team in Anthony Fickewirth and sophomore transfer third baseman Andres Kim, who earned a scholarship to UC San Diego after being an All-Mission League and Pasadena Star-News All-Area Second Team infieder at St. Francis High. Kim batted .338 his senior prep year and is expected to bat lead-off for PCC.

McGee is high on freshman second baseman Jose Jimenez (Roosevelt High), who may alternate with Kim at third base as well. Jimenez was an All-Eastern League player.

"Jose hits the ball hard to all fields," McGee siad. "He's a steady fielder, and he's one of many players in our lineup that can run the bases well."

Behind the plate, McGee is excited about the throwing arm of first-year catcher Jessie Garcia, who was Valle Vista League MVP as a senior (batted .432). As a junior, he caught Los Angeles Times Player of the Year and Colorado Rockies' draft pick Peter Lambert when they helped San Dimas High win 31 straight games as a nationally-ranked school. Matt Shults (South Pasadena) is another catcher with a strong arm and gives PCC depth in the backstop position.

In the outfield, John Bicos (St. Francis) will be the team's centerfielder and is a player that McGee hopes can "add some RBI in the middle of the lineup." Tanner Whitlock (Burroughs High, Burbank) is the lefty-hitting part of a platoon in left field with right-handed batting Nico Martinez (Alto Loma). In right field, Brett Wheat (La Salle High) and Sumner Smith, a 2-time, PSN All-Area Team selection and All-Pacific League First Team choice from Pasadena High. Sumner knocked in 27 RBI and batted .366 as a senior.

The pitching staff, coached also by assistant Nico Calderaro, is the most talented since McGee took over the program in 2014. The team is bolstered by four top starters including letterman and scheduled opening day pitcher Chris Brown, who led last year's staff with a record of 4-3 and a 3.78 ERA in 50 innings, and returning All-SCC honorable mention from 2015 in Nick Esparza, who was that team's most reliable pitcher with a 4.33 ERA in a team-best 68.2 innings pitched.

Maranatha High product Paul McAllister comes in as a PSN All-Area First Team selection, and an All-Olympic League choice who pitched as a senior to a 6-1 record with 60 strikeouts in 60.2 innings. He hurled three shutouts. Rounding out this fearsome foursome is redshirt freshman Race Gardner, who helped Glendora High to a Palomares League title as an All-League First Teamer in 2015. Gardner transferred from APU.

"All four guys have the ability to pitch at the front end of games," McGee said. "Both Brown and Esparza can pitch to contact, and they bring solid community college experience to the hill. McAllister and Gardner are hard throwers but can locate and hit their spots. These guys are going to keep us in games and allow us to be selective as we go to the bullpen."

Among the relievers, John Mendoza (La Serna High) is a hard-throwing closer type while the potential is there for Jesse Hanckel, PCC's football quarterback in 2016, who was an All-Olympic League First Team baseball player at Village Christian High. In his final two prep seasons on the mound in 2014-15, Hanckel put up outstanding numbers with an 18-5 record, 139 Ks in 134 innings, and a 1.62 ERA. 

While McGee's Lancers have talent, the coach is mindful of the things that helped the program get better in his first two seasons.

"One of the things we established was a fundamentally sound defense, both in the infield and outfield. I expect that to continue for us. Our biggest challenge will be to generate enough runs to give us a chance to win games. We have 20 freshmen on the roster so they have to develop at a faster rate in order for us to compete in a very difficult South Coast Conference North Division."

Besides pitching coach Calderaro, in his third season, McGee has added Jason Munoz to the assistant coaching staff. 

PCC opens its 39-game schedule for the 2017 season on Friday, Jan. 27 when it travels to face West Los Angeles College. First pitch is 2 p.m. The Lancers then host the same Wildcats team on Saturday, Jan. 28 in their home opener at Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Memorial Field. That contest begins at 1 p.m.