Half-Century Later, PCC Scores A Solo Conference Baseball Crown

In 1967, the Pasadena City College baseball team captured its third straight Western State Conference title on its way to a state championship under Coach Ron Robinson. On the 50th anniversary year of that Lancers team, PCC clinched its first solo conference crown since that season with a 14-12 win at Mt. San Antonio College Tuesday afternoon. 

After clinching at least a share of the title on April 22 at its home field, the players refused to celebrate until it had won the South Coast Conference North Division championship outright. But moments after its victory on Mt. SAC's Mazmanian Field, the players dog-piled in a celebration of an "Impossible Dream" season under third-year head coach Pat McGee.

The state No. 20-ranked Lancers improved to 14-6 in conference play with two games left in the regular season and upped its overall record to 23-12. PCC will be playing in the upcoming Southern California Regional Playoffs, its first postseason appearance in 45 years.

Tuesday's victory started out with Mt. SAC starting pitcher Jacob Castillo shutting down Lancers bat for no runs and three hits over the first five innings as the Mounties took a 2-0 lead. After scoring a run in the sixth, PCC put together back-to-back innings of offensive mayhem. The Lancers batted around their lineup in both the seventh (seven runs, six hits--two by third baseman Jose Jimenez, and two triples) and eighth innings (six runs, six hits, three doubles). 

PCC needed all of the late offense as Mt. SAC kept responding with its own hitting barrage. In the ninth, Race Gardner got out of a first-and-third jam with a fielder's choice hit to Jimenez that capped the slugfest win.

The team collected season highs with 19 hits and seven for extra bases. All nine Lancers batters hit safely with designated hitter Anthony Fickewirth going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI, Jimenez 3-for-5, first baseman Jeremy Conant 3-for-6 with a triple, and shortstop Alex Briggs 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Catcher Jessie Garcia went 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI and second baseman Andres Kim also batted 2-for-5. 

"For the past few weeks especially, our offense has found a groove," McGee said. "It looked like it wasn't our day at the plate against Castillo, then we just got good swing after good swing against the Mt. SAC bullpen. The hitters were intent to win this game no matter what. Even carrying over from Saturday's feel good win, this has been a great time for PCC baseball. I hope our baseball alumni can feel good about our success this season. It's been a long time coming."

Sergio Valenzuela, the second of five pitchers, picked up his fourth win with two innings of work (two hits, two runs, two Ks). 

PCC continues its 3-game series with Mt. SAC on Thursday, April 27 in a 2:30 p.m. start at Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Memorial Field. On Friday, April 28, the teams meet in the regular season finale at Mt. SAC.