Mitchell, Guardado Shine In Baseball's Win At Citrus

Lucky to have two All-South Coast Conference pitchers returning to the staff, the Pasadena City College baseball team rode the arms of Coleman Mitchell and Jakob Guardado in a 12-3 rout at Citrus College on Saturday. The Lancers evened their record at 1-1.

Mitchell started and hurled five innings of 3-hit, shutout ball for the victory while Guardado fired three innings of nearly perfect ball, retiring nine of 10 batters faced (one infield single) and recording the save. Middle reliever Nathan Mertens was touched for Citrus' runs in the sixth.

"Mitchell and Jakob are two exceptional pitchers who we expect to lead us this season," said PCC head coach Pat McGee. "We lost a pretty good tandem in Benny Olguin (All-SoCal selection) and Ryan Graves to graduation last year, but it's good to have experienced sophomores to give us innings this year. Kyle Noell is another sophomore who is improved and we think can help us."

Off to a great hitting start is letterman catcher Matthew Delgado, who batted 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI in the victory. He's reached base seven times in 10 plate appearances over two games, hitting 4-for-7 with five RBI. Delgado laced a 2-run double down the right field line during PCC's 6-run, seventh inning. Also in a 14-hit Lancers attack, third baseman Toshiki Kuriya went 2-for-6 with a double and two RBI, transfer centerfielder Tommy Castillo was 2-for-4 with two RBI, and first baseman Jake Trabbie also knocked in two runs with a double and a sacrifice fly. 

In his first collegiate start, shortstop Jack Esguerra batted 2-for-4 and turned two double plays defensively while second baseman Ivan Barragan came off the Lancers bench to go 2-for-2 with a double. 

On Thursday, Feb. 2, the Lancers open the 3-day, South Coast Conference Tournament as they face LA Valley in a 2 p.m. first pitch. It's the team's home opener at off-campus Jackie Robinson Memorial Field, located at Brookside Park, just walking distance from the Rose Bowl.