Baseball's Blessinger Named March's CCCSIA State Athlete of Month

Max Blessinger, the Pasadena City College baseball team's sophomore centerfielder, was chosen the California Community College Sports Information Association (CCCSIA) State Athlete of the Month for March. It is the first time that a PCC men's athlete has been honored with the state award in 15 years and just the fourth Lancers male student-athlete to ever be selected.

Blessinger, a transfer from Dallas Baptist University, put together a run production month like no other for a leadoff hitter. In 14 games, he drove in an amazing 26 RBI with 20 runs, seven doubles, two home runs, and one triple. He batted .492 (30 hits) and had an on-base percentage of .594. His Ruthian 1.322 OPS helped PCC go 11-3 in the month and move the Lancers into lead contention for the South Coast Conference title. 

He rallied the Lancers to a win over Long Beach when he hit a game-tying 3-run homer in the ninth, then he helped PCC get into extra innings the next game by delivering a 2-RBI single with his team down to its final out in the ninth. Besides leading the state with 48 runs, Blessinger is fifth in hits (55) and sixth in RBI (43).

Blessinger, a local product of Maranatha High, broke PCC's school record for runs scored in a single season on Monday in a loss at Los Angeles Valley. 

He helped PCC go 11-3 in March and lift the Lancers into first place in the South Coast Conference standings. 

Here is a list of all the PCC State Award winners since it was originated in 2005:
Max Blessinger, baseball, March, 2022
Dariel Johnson, women's basketball, January 2019
Regerina Baker, women's basketball, January 2015
Kinyada Johnson, women's basketball, March 2009
Easter Faafiti, women's basketball, January 2008
David Pittman, football, September 2007
Edino Steele, men's track and field, May 2007 (a member of the PCC Sports Hall of Fame, inducted in 2018)
Jeanine Deno, women's basketball, December 2006
Yura Movsisyan, men's soccer, November 2005 (Major League Soccer and international player)