Kuriya's 7 RBI, Guardado's Dominant Pitching Lifts Baseball In SoCal Challenge Tourney

Letterman infielder Toshiki Kuriya slugged seven RBI in a 20-5 rout over LA Pierce on Friday and sophomore pitcher Jakob Guardado fired 5.1 innings of 2-hit ball to lift the Pasadena City College baseball team over LA Mission, 8-6, on Saturday in a pair of victories during the SoCal Challenge Tournament. The two contests were played at PCC's off-campus diamond--Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Field.

Kuriya, last year's starting third baseman, has moved over to play shortstop this season and with sterling results. Against Pierce, he finished a double short of the cycle and had driven in the seven runs by the fourth inning when the team led 17-0. He started his day with a 2-run homer over the left field fence in the first. He tripled in two runs in the second, singled in two in the third, and then lined a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

Needing a double to reach the cycle, he popped up in the seventh and was hit by a pitch in the eighth. From Japan, Kuriya finished his day 3-for-4 as his seven ribbie day goes down as one of the finest in PCC baseball history. 

"Toshi has earned a lot of respect and admiration from both coaches and players due to his work ethic and leading by example," said PCC head coach Pat McGee. "His hitting performance v. Pierce was tremendous for us to watch. And yet what has been most impressive about him this season is his defense. He does everything we've asked of him and more."

Also in the Pierce romp, centerfielder Tommy Castillo batted 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI while 6-foot-4 designated hitter Patrick Garcia launched a booming home run over the center field fence and doubled (2-for-5). Catcher Matthew Delgado reached base four times and was 2-for-3 with two RBI and second baseman Ivan Barragan hit 2-for-5. Castillo, leftfielder Aryonis Harrison (three walks), Guardado (playing right field), Kuriya and Garcia each scored three runs. Barragan and third baseman Jaden Guzman (1-for-2, two walks) crossed the plate twice each. 

In all, PCC collected 15 hits, 11 walks and two hit-by-pitches. It was the first time the Lancers scored 20 runs since beating LA Harbor, 20-4, on March 8, 2019. Coleman Mitchell pitched five innings (six Ks) to improve to 2-0 as the sophomore retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced. Reliever Nathan Mertens picked up a save by throwing four innings of 1-hit ball with four strikeouts.

PCC 8, LA Mission 6

Guardado opened up his performance by firing 16 consecutive strikes, 13 to set down the first six LA Mission batters. He had a shutout going into the sixth inning when he was replaced by McGee with a 7-0 lead.

A 2-run homer by Adam Sandoval off reliever Jacob Fox resulted in the only run off Guardado (1-0), who struck out eight hitters, walked two and allowed his only two hits in the third inning. 

LA Mission (1-4) rallied to give the Lancers a scare in the ninth inning. The Eagles cut the deficit to two runs before Sandoval rocketed a single off PCC's third baseman Fabian Dominguez to place runners on first and third and two outs. Rider Gardner, the Lancers' fifth pitcher of the day, earned the save by getting pinch hitter Jacob Drossin to bounce out to Barragan for a game-ending 4-3. 

PCC (3-2) opened things up with a 6-run, second inning. Garcia tripled down the left field line to score catcher Matt Rice (1-for-1, three walks, one RBI) and then scored on a passed ball. Harrison bombed a 2-RBI double to deep center to also highlight the offense. Harrison went 1-for-2 with a walk and HBP while rightfielder Josh Hernandez was 1-for-2 with a double and two walks. 

Both Barragan and first baseman Jake Trabbie (1-for-3) lined sacrifice flies for RBI. 

After five games, Delgado led the squad in batting (.429, seven RBI), followed by Castillo (.409, seven RBI), Harrison (.353, and .562 on-base percentage), and Kuriya (.304, team-leading nine RBI). On the mound, Mitchell has a 3.60 ERA, 2-0 record in 10 innings (eight Ks, one walk) and Guardado a brilliant 1.08 ERA, allowing just three hits with 10 strikeouts in eight innings (1-0, one save). 

PCC next plays a home and home v. Victor Valley on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at VVC and back at Brookside on Thursday, Feb. 9. Both contests have a 2 p.m. opening pitch.