Robinson Park New Scoring High For Softball In SCC-Opening Win

Thirteen different players collected hits and 12 drove in at least one run during the Pasadena City College softball team's 19-1, South Coast Conference-opening and home-opening offensive show over Compton at Robinson Park on Thursday. The game was called after 4-1/2 innings due to the 8-run mercy rule.

It is the most runs ever scored by PCC at Robinson Park, its off-campus home field since the 2011 season. The previous high was 15 runs in a 5-inning win over Victor Valley in 2016. The school record for runs by a PCC team is 30, also v. Compton in a 2011 road game. 

The Lancers improved to 2-2 by scoring six runs in the second inning and then doubling that with 12 runs in the third frame. PCC batted around and then some in both innings, sending 12 batters up in the second and then worked their way around the order two full times (18 batters) in the high-scoring third. 

"It was nice to come out strong and be able to have a total team effort, and see everyone contribute," said PCC head coach Monica Tantlinger. "A real test will be to compete against an undefeated Long Beach City College team on Friday. I am hoping our speed shows tomorrow."

Designated player Austyn Helmuth and second baseman Shynia Torrez were the only two Lancers with two hits. Backup rightfielder Leilani Montanez led the RBI parade with three followed by two each by Helmuth, backup third baseman Lexy Rios, reserve leftfielder Alise Allen, catcher Jenni Chacon and centerfielder Gabi Perez. 

Players with a single a piece were third baseman Samantha Diaz, Rios, first baseman Valley Febles, leftfielder Nathalia Velasquez, Allen, reserve DP Mikayla Talavera, rightfielder Olivia Nanez, Montanez, shortstop Kaylee Medrano, backup second baseman Danielle Ruiz, and Chacon. Ironically, Perez scored a team-best three runs (as did Allen) but was the only Lancer who didn't hit safely out of the 14 players who batted. 

The two biggest swings of the game were turned in by Torrez, who drove in PCC's first run with a booming double to deep centerfield in the second inning, and Allen, a lefty hitter who hit a sky-high triple that landed just inside the rightfield line for two RBI in the third inning. 

The beneficiary of the scoring bonanza was winning pitcher Vivian Little, who pitched a complete-game, 4-hitter and struck out six batters to up her record to 2-0. 

On Jan. 30, PCC had doubles by Diaz and Medrano, but were blanked by host Antelope Valley, 5-0, as the Marauders pitcher Briana Garrett hurled a 4-hitter and aided her own cause with a 2-run homer. 

On Friday, Feb. 8, Pasadena plays at Long Beach, a team that leads the state in wins and is undefeated at 7-0. The conference game is a make-up of a rainout from Tuesday and has a 2 p.m. first pitch.