2020 Pasadena City College Softball News
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.
On March 7, the Pasadena City College softball team stood 11-9 overall and a game out of second place in the South Coast Conference race. The Lancers were poised to make an annual push to reach the Southern California Regional Playoffs. But instead of getting ready this week for postseason play, PCC can't even physically meet as a team as its 2020 season was cut short due to the worldwide health crisis.
Shortstop Danielle Ruiz was on a hot streak in the month of February for the Pasadena City College softball team. The sophomore was reaching base at a sizzling .674 pace, but little did she know that March 7 would mark her final game of the 2020 season as the world health crisis over the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) stopped all CCCAA sports and in the process ended Ruiz's potential All-State year.
Relying on strong pitching and an offense predicated on runners in motion as often as possible, the Pasadena City College softball team has won five consecutive games, including Tuesday's 6-1, South Coast Conference victory over an equally red-hot Long Beach City College squad.
After leading the Pasadena City College softball team in batting average and recording a .500 on-base percentage last year as an All-South Coast Conference First Team freshman second baseman, Danielle Ruiz has transitioned to shortstop in 2020 while putting together more torrid offensive numbers in her sophomore season.
Mary Geer, who was an assistant coach for the Pasadena City College softball team for 21 seasons from 1994-2014, has passed away. Geer coached under five different PCC head coaches, including both current coach Monica Tantlinger and her mentor and PCC Hall of Fame head coach Sandi Iverson.
Sophomore rightfielder Samantha Diaz was determined to not let a Glendale rally get the best of the Pasadena City College softball team on Tuesday. Diaz broke a 5-5 tie with the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the sixth, then made a sensational diving catch to rob a hit in the seventh as the Lancers outlasted the Vaqueros, 6-5, Tuesday at Robinson Park.
The Pasadena City College softball team knows the importance of RPI in its non-conference schedule and again went up against two strong SoCal teams on Saturday. The Lancers lost to host #3 RPI Cypress, 8-2, then rallied to beat .700 winning percentage San Diego Mesa, 7-6, as their own RPI rose to #13 in the region.
The situation looked bleak. Bases loaded, no outs in the top of the seventh inning, and the Pasadena City College softball team holding on to a 1-run lead. That's what Lancers pitcher Austyn Helmuth faced in a relief role Thursday. Helmuth, though, kept her poise, struck out one hitter, then got the next to hit into a game-ending, pop-up double play with shortstop Danielle Ruiz doubling off the runner on second with a quick throw to second baseman Ahylie Rosales.
The Pasadena City College softball team's bats came out blazing on Tuesday and by game's end, the Lancers had posted an 11-1, 5-inning mercy victory over host Long Beach City College. It was Pasadena's second straight South Coast Conference mercy win to improve to 2-0 in league and 2-3 overall.
The Pasadena City College softball team pounded out 14 hits and Elena Bahnimtewa tossed a 2-hitter as the Lancers opened South Coast Conference play with a 17-0, 5-inning rout over Compton at Robinson Park on Thursday. PCC is 1-2 overall while Compton played its 2020 season opener.
After rallying from 5-1 down to take a 7-5 lead, the Pasadena City College softball team got burned by a great defensive play, an umpire decision, and some timely hitting by visiting Southwestern in a 9-7 loss at Robinson Park on Saturday.
Six key sophomore starters return from last year's SoCal Regional Playoff qualifying squad as the Pasadena City College softball team expect the veteran group to lead the Lancers into another strong campaign in 2020. The Lancers are directed by seventh-year head coach Monica Tantlinger, whose 2018 and 2019 teams combined for 52 victories.