A third of a league season in, the SoCal #12-ranked Pasadena City College baseball team moved into first place in the South Coast Conference after a 15-5 rout over Cerritos on Thursday at Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Field. It also marked the third straight best-of-3 game series win by PCC, now 6-2 in conference.
The Lancers (13-6 overall) were led by leftfielder Aryonis Harrison, who went 4-for-5 with a double and his first collegiate home run. His solo drive over the right-center field fence in the second inning marked the first time the switch-hitting sophomore had gone deep in a game in 334 plate appearances going back to his first contest in the COVID-19 shortened 2020. He had doubled and scored PCC's first run to lead off the first inning.
"Can't be happier for a player than to see Aryonis slug a home run," said PCC head coach Pat McGee. "Here's a guy who has stayed loyal to our program for a fourth year, persevering through the short season in 2020, a cancelled year in 2021, and finally getting a full season last year. We've talked about his speed and his gold glove defense, which is almost legendary out there, but now he's earning his keep as a hitter as well. He's one of the state's best bunters plus he uses his experienced batting eyes to pick the right pitches to go after it. If he isn't getting on with a hit, he's drawing walks for us to start rallies."
Reaching base five times in six plate appearances on Thursday, Harrison raised his average to .329 as he is third in the South Coast in on-base percentage at .489. His 18 walks leads all SCC hitters and his third in the conference in runs scored with 22.
Centerfielder Tommy Castillo was another Lancer who shined as he went 3-for-5 with a triple, two stolen bases and three RBI. Second baseman Ivan Barragan was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs knocked in while designated hitter Jakob Guardado hit 2-for-5 with three runs scored and a pair of ribbies.
First baseman Jake Trabbie extended his personal hitting streak to all eight conference games by going 2-for-5 with two RBI. Trabbie is 15-for-his-last 34 (.441) to raise his overall average to .333. In conference, he's totaled four doubles, two triples and 11 RBI. In the all-important, South Coast-only batting statistics, the sophomore's 15 hits lead the league, his RBI total and batting average are third best thus far.
Third baseman Toshiki Kuriya (1-for-2, two RBI), catcher Matt Rice, and rightfielder Josh Hernandez each drew two walks as part of 11 free passes given to Pasadena batters. The entire starting nine reached base via a hit or walk at least twice (27 times the team reached safely in 48 plate apperances).
The beneficiary of the Lancers' 16-hit attack was righty starter Coleman Mitchell, who is tied for second in the state in pitching victories with five (5-1 record). Mitchell tossed 5.1 innings, scattering seven hits, allowing three earned runs, two walks and striking out three Cerritos hitters. Reliever Ben Griffith fired 2.2 innings of 1-hit, shutout ball while Nathan Mertens struck out three Falcons in the ninth to close it out.
After Cerritos sliced a 7-1 lead to 7-4 in the top of the sixth, PCC answered with eight runs in the bottom of the frame. Castillo, Trabbie and Barragan all had 2-RBI hits in the rally.
PCC closes out the 3-game set at Cerritos on Saturday, Mar. 11 in a 12 noon start (weather permitting). The Lancers are a sparkling 6-1 on the road this season.