The opportunities to move up the South Coast Conference standings were there for the Pasadena City College baseball team. But after 21 overall games and just nine of the alotted 24 SCC games played, the Lancers saw their 2020 season end abruptly in early March due to the worldwide health crisis.
Under the direction of head coach Pat McGee, who had coached the Lancers to SCC titles in both 2017 and 2019, PCC was *10-11 overall and 4-5 in conference play. McGee felt his team had yet to show its potential and were just starting to look like the type of squad that might have continued the program's streak of three consecutive years making it to the Southern California Regional Playoffs (2017-2019).
"I don't believe our record was an accurate reflection of this team, its progress and the advantageous position it held as we entered the second half stretch," McGee said. "Historically we have been a team that plays it best baseball in the second half of the season."
He discussed the development process that occurs especially for incoming freshmen as they transition to the next level.
The Lancers were a tough one to beat at their off-campus, home diamond--Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Field. PCC had won seven of its last eight games on its home field and had nine more home games slated. In all, Pasadena's last 19 regular season games (15 in conference) were cancelled when the CCCAA ultimately made the decision to end the Spring athletics season for all sports last month.
While Pasadena's team prospects were dashed, so were some big individual seasons cut down in their tracks. Sophomore third baseman Marco Martinez, an All-American as a freshman, was on target to reach those honors again and was a SCC MVP candidate when the season saw its unofficial end date on March 12. Martinez led the SCC in five hitting categories (including RBI with 22), led the state in on-base percentage (.574), and was tied for third in the state in walks with 25. His .388 batting average was second in the conference.
"Obviously I am a huge fan of the decision to grant the Spring Sport participants an additional year. It was the right thing to do and unfortunately that can get lost in the decision-making process. We are all grateful for the opportunities that lie ahead. Its potentially the best of both worlds for the members of our team. If a 4-year opportunity of their liking opens up, they can take it. However, should the perceived to be roster logjam at the next level come to fruition, they can return to PCC and improve upon their resume that they have been building both in the classroom and on the field."
*Note--All PCC Springs sports teams official win-loss records and individual/team statistics count with no conference, state champions or standings places.
Sophomore reliever Benny Torres was having a banner 2020 season when the games stopped.