If you wanted dramatic effect, nothing beat the final at-bat of Tuesday's South Coast Conference softball game between visiting Long Beach City College and host Pasadena City College. Not only were the bases loaded, two outs and PCC trailing by just two runs, the temperature at Robinson Park dropped 20 degrees, the wind brought down the outfield auxiliary fence, then hail, rain and lightning added to the drama.
The players, umpires and coaches hung tough as play resumed despite the inclement weather conditions. Unfortunately for the Lancers, Jaimie Harris' fly ball to center was caught by LBCC outfielder Alia Marquez, who fought the elements to secure the final out as PCC's rally fell a little short in a 7-5 defeat.
Pasadena (1-8) nearly pulled off a comeback after the Vikings Ileana Rivera bombed a 3-run homer over the left field fence for a 7-3 Long Beach advantage in the top of the seventh. With PCC down to its final out, shortstop Priscilla Ortega hit a hard RBI single off the third baseman's glove, then relief pitcher Kiley Kraft drew a bases-loaded walk to cut it to two before Long Beach pitcher Daisy Torres closed out the complete-game victory.
Kraft had a strong performance, hurling 4.1 innings in relief of starter Mika Ibarra and allowing only three hits and no earned runs. At the plate, Kraft just missed a home run as her drive to left hit the top of the fence in the fourth for a long single and she drew two walks.
First baseman Marcella Ordonez batted 2-for-4 while Harris was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Harris hit a bloop RBI single just off the glove of LBCC's shortstop that tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth.
PCC shortstop Gizelle Leyva batted 1-for-3 with a stolen base. On defense, she made four flawless 6-3 throws and finished off a double play in the sixth with a heads up throw to gun out a runner at third. Rightfielder Kimberly Dea also turned a double play in the first inning, picking off a runner off first after catching a flyout. Catcher Aniya Kessell gunned out a runner trying to steal in the third.
After nine games, lefty-hitting Ordonez is the team's batting leader with a .333 average and Kraft has a 3.50 ERA to lead the pitching staff with a 1-2 record in 24 innings thrown. On Feb. 4, Kraft twirled a 3-hit shutout for PCC's lone win thus far, a 6-0 triumph over Riverside CC. Offensively that day, Ortega batted 3-for-4 and second baseman Montserra Fukumoto was 1-for-3 with a 3-RBI double.
PCC plays at Chaffey College today (Feb. 16) and then host East Los Angeles in a SCC game on Thursday, Feb. 17 at 2:30 p.m.