The defending South Coast Conference champion Pasadena City College baseball team opened up the 2018 season with a command performance by freshman pitcher Gordon Ingebritson as he combined with two relievers to shut out West Los Angeles, 5-0, Friday afternoon at Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Field.
Ingebritson, who throws an array of pitches and from different angles, struck out nine batters and left after eight innings having allowed just four singles and a walk. A redshirt from Coastal Carolina University, the right-hander retired the side in order in the first and third innings, then had a stretch of 13 straight batters set down between the fifth into the eighth. He struck out the side in the sixth inning.
The shutout was saved in the eighth on the last batter Ingebritson faced. With runners on first and second and two outs, WLAC's Paul Pollard lifted a fly ball headed down the left field line. PCC leftfielder Edward Manzo sprinted and then made a sensational diving catch on the LF chalk to end the threat.
In the ninth, PCC reliever Frank Gonzalez got into trouble in walking the bases loaded, but with two outs second reliever Nathan Garkow picked up the save and preserved the team shutout, striking out Tyler Moguil looking for the final out.
The Lancers offense put their first run on the board in the second inning. After loading the bases on a single, hit by pitch and a error, Manzo hit into a 4-6-3 double play that scored rightfielder Ardon Fryer for a 1-0 lead. In the fifth, PCC strung together three consecutive RBI singles by first baseman Daniel Netz, Fryer, and third baseman Sean Fassler. Fryer, a letterman who took just six at bats last season, had a banner day as a second-year starter by going a perfect 4-for-4. In the eighth, Pasadena added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Jose Jimenez, who was 2-for-4. Centerfielder John Bicos batted 2-for-5.
"Ingebritson really went after the West LA hitters and showed some great poise and control," said PCC head coach Pat McGee. "He's already establishing his potential to be a top-of-the-rotation starter. Fryer had a great day at the plate. He's been hitting the ball on the barrel in our winter practices. We played good defense and it was overall a nice way to start a season."
PCC hosts Victor Valley College Saturday, Jan. 27 in a 12 noon start at Brookside Park.
