By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor It’s not often you can associate kids born in the 1990’s with former President Richard Nixon in the same sentence. But with Tuesday’s 14-12 victory at Mt. Sac, the Lancers earned their first conference title and postseason berth since Nixon was running for re-election in 1972. PCC pounded out 19 […]
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
It’s not often you can associate kids born in the 1990’s with former President Richard Nixon in the same sentence.
But with Tuesday’s 14-12 victory at Mt. Sac, the Lancers earned their first conference title and postseason berth since Nixon was running for re-election in 1972.
PCC pounded out 19 hits, including four players that had three hits each.
Jeremy Conant went 3 for 6 with a triple, scored three times and drove in one run.
PCC shortstop Alex Briggs, who is the Lancers’ leader, had three hits, scored twice and drove in two runs.
Jose Jimenez went 3 for 5 with two runs scored and he had an RBI.
Anthony Fickewirth doubled twice, had three hits, scored one run and had two RBIs.
Andres Kim, the conference’s second leading hitter, had two more hits on Tuesday and scored a run.
Jessie Garcia had two hits, including a triple, scored once and had two RBIs.
Shane Ogata tripled, scored twice and drove in one run.
Josh Bicos also had an RBI and a run scored, and went 1 for 5.
Sergio Valenzuela picked up the win, going the fifth and sixth innings, and allowing two runs on two hits.
Valenzuela didn’t walk a batter and struck out two, but he did give up a solo shot to Ray Mata-Lemos.
Jacob Castillo was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits.
Castillo went 6 1/3 innings, walked two and struck out eight PCC batters.
Despite the postseason being set, PCC still has two more left to end the regular season with the Mounties.
PCC will host Mt. Sac on Thursday afternoon at Brookside, and then travel back to Walnut on Friday to finish off the three-game series at Mt. Sac.
Quotable:
PCC coach Pat McGee: “I’m truly excited- first for the kids and especially the institution!
Very few members, if any, have had the opportunity to see a conference championship and for that I’m grateful to be part of a coaching staff and team that made this possible for our community to share in.
Once again, our kids showed the resiliency & poise that has been the backbone of the season and the program as a whole! Every single player has played a role in capturing this championship. We have needed everyone in this group and I’m honored that they have continued to believe in the message and standard of commitment and hard work that has been delivered by my coaching staff!”
PCC shortstop Alex Briggs: “It’s a great feeling to know that all the hard work and dedication from our group of guys has paid off. Having the title outright rather than sharing it is how we wanted the season to end, but now we’re focused on the next game and we’ll continue the hard work in order to prepare for playoffs.”
Box Score:
PCC: 0-0-0-0-0-0-1-7-6-0-(14)
Mt. Sac: 0-0-2-0-0-0-4-4-2-(12)
Hits:
PCC 19; Mt. Sac 14
Batteries:
PCC: Jesse Hanckel, Sergio Valenzuela (5), Matt McElligott (7), Nick Esparza (8), Race Gardner (9) and Jessie Garcia.
Mt. Sac: Jacob Castillo, Mason Corneliussen (7), Steven Canedo (7), Michael Starns (8), Josh Avila (9) and Daniel Ramirez, Jose Urbina.
Win: Sergio Valenzuela (4-2)
Loss: Jacob Castillo (4-6)
Records:
PCC: 23-12 overall, 14-6 in conference.
Mt. Sac: 16-21, 8-1
