PCC Athletics Alumni Celebrate 4-Year University Graduations

With the limitations set on gatherings due to the Covid-19 crisis that canceled 2020 graduation ceremonies throughout the country, some Pasadena City College student-athlete alumni shared individual photos signifying and celebrating their graduations from their respective 4-year universities.

JOSE JIMENEZ

From baseball, Jose Jimenez, an All-South Coast Conference infielder from the 2017-2018 Lancers teams, graduated from Cal State Dominguez Hills. A sociology major, Jimenez batted .324 with 18 RBI as a junior for the Toros in 2019. He played in 21 games this year before the season was shut down in early March. At PCC, Jimenez played under head coach Pat McGee.

The PCC softball team had four former players, all teammates on the 2016 Lancers, graduated as part of the 2020 4-year university class. All of these student-athletes played at PCC under head coach Monica Tantlinger.

KARINA MORENO

Karina Moreno, a two-time, All-SCC infielder and PCC President's Award winner in 2017, continued her terrific playing career at Marymount California University. She received the Cal Pac Champions of Character Award in her junior season, then stepped up to hit .415 with a team-high 54 hits in helping Marymount make a 20-win leap to win the Cal Pac Conference and Tournament titles. Moreno earned All-CPC honors as a part of the program's first-ever conference title. Moreno earned her bachelor's degree in multidisciplinary studies with a emphasis in psychology and criminal justice.

At PCC, Moreno batted .391 over two seasons, setting PCC school records for most runs scored in a season (48 as a sophomore) and for a career with 84. She totaled 99 hits, 44 walks and 38 stolen bases. Her collegiate career on-base percentage was nearly .500 (.488).

DEREK BLOW

Derek "Mudder" Blow (photo at top of release), a power-hitting first baseman-outfielder in 2015-2016, earned a bachelor's of science in mathematics degree at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Blow, an All-SCC Second Team choice in 2016, was a career .338 hitter for the Lancers with six home runs and 58 RBI over her two seasons.

BRENDA RIVAS

An outfielder from the 2016-17 teams, Brenda Rivas graduated from Cal State Bakersfield with a kinesiology degree.

ALISSA BARCENA

Alissa Barcena, a pitcher from the 2014 team and sophomore in '16, earned a liberal studies degree from Mount Saint Mary's University, Los Angeles.