COVID-19 Season Returners Bolster 2023 PCC Softball

PCC 2023 Softball Roster

PCC 2023 Softball Schedule

In recruiting mode following a subpar 2022 season, Pasadena City College softball head coach Monica Tantlinger got an unexpected group of blue-chippers---the return of five starters from the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season and one other from her 2019 squad. Add in a few top lettermen starting players from last year and the program suddenly has high aspirations entering the 2023 season.

PCC welcomes the return from the 2020 squad of shortstop Danielle Ruiz, catcher Jennie Chacon, centerfielder Olivia Nanez and the team's top 2 pitchers that year in Austyn Helmuth and Elena Bahnimtewa. Ruiz, Chacon, and Helmuth were each All-South Coast Conference selections as freshmen in 2019 and all five players were in the midst of outstanding seasons in 2020 before the season got derailed after 20 games due to the pandemic. 

While those five got their year of eligibility back, the length of the pandemic saw them all choose to either take jobs and/or continue their academic path in their educations by the 2022 season. But the close group all collectively decided that after two years off from the game that they owed it to themselves and to the Lancers program to complete their community college sports journey this year.

"It's a remarkable story, and our coaching staff worked hard to get those 2020 players to realize their potential as athletes," Tantlinger said of the 2020 returners. "It was tough last year because we had not a single player remaining from the 2020 team and we had to kind of rebuild from scratch. We took our lumps (14-26 record), and then I'm worrying about how to fill gaps to make us better this season. My fears turned into joy with getting back some of my best players from the 2019-20 seasons."

Another returner is outfielder Gabi Perez, who was a starting centerfielder on the 2019 Lancers but redshirted in 2020. 

Tantlinger is also excited about bringing back 2022 All-SCC Second Team slugger Jaimie Harris, who led the team in batting (.357), home runs (five), doubles (10), triples (three) and RBI (23). Other key '22 returners are first baseman Marcella Ordonez (.295, 10 doubles, 11 RBI), pitching ace Kiley Kraft (12-7, 3.13 ERA), starting shortstop Gigi Levya, and centerfielder Breanna Rodriguez. 

Factor in other '22 lettermen in catcher Alyssa Ceballos, outfielder Giselle Lopez, catcher/outfielder Mistie Mares, pitcher Iliana Cardenas, and second-year transfer outfielder/first baseman Arlyne Ruiz (East Los Angeles College in 2022) and that means the Lancers will carry an unthinkable total of 16 sophomores.

"We really have a main goal to get back to the playoffs," Tantlinger said. "Yes, we have an awesome amount of experience, but I think the '22 returners may be a little ahead of the 2020 kids right now because they have been playing year round going back to last year while the others are working on getting back into playing game shape. On the other side, the COVID returners have established a leadership tone and have been gamechangers as far as our practice habits."

While few spots remained, PCC has three incoming freshmen in third baseman Alyssa Guzman (Schurr High), utility player Brittany Gutierrez (Rosemead), and pitcher Ivy Avalos (Garfield HS). 

Tantlinger's projected starting nine going into the season are: D. Ruiz, SS, Harris, 3B/DP (Gutierrez, 3B in reserve), Ordonez, 1b, Nanez, LF, Guzman/Lopez, DP, Perez, CF (Rodriguez backing up), A. Ruiz, RF, Chacon/Ceballos, C, 2B-Leyva (Perez also to see time at 2b), Kraft, Helmuth, Bahnimtewa, P (all three will split a majority of the innings). 

An All-SCC First Team selection as a freshman, Danielle Ruiz has already produced outstanding hitting numbers in her 1-1/2 seasons with 57 hits, 38 walks,  a .399 batting average, a .538 on-base percentage, 30 stolen bases, and 31 RBI. The pitching staff all have the distinction of leading the team in victories in different seasons--Helmuth with 11 (2.60 ERA) in 2019, Bahnhimtewa with a perfect 6-0 record in 2020, and Kraft's 12 last year.