Acknowledged and nicknamed by the coaching staff as simply "baseball player" because of his high in-game IQ and ability to make things happen for his team, Pasadena City College freshman utility player Bryan Richman continues to be one of the South Coast Conference's best players in 2024.
Richman did his best on Tuesday to try to help the Lancers as he batted 4-for-4 and reached base safely all six times from the leadoff position. However, a costly error on what should have been the game's final out by led to East Los Angeles pulling out a wild, 11-10 victory at Brookside Park.
The Lancers are 16-13 overall and now 8-8 in SCC play. The 3-game series v. the Huskies continues on Thursday, April 4 at ELAC (2 p.m.).
PCC rallied with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 10-9 lead highlighted by a solo home run over the left field fence by designated hitter Evan Nahra. In the top of the ninth, ELAC placed runners on second and third and two outs bringing up Amaris Harrison against reliever Connor Campbell. An ensuing hard hit ground ball to second went through the legs of the Lancers second baseman to score the Huskies' tying and winning runs.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Lancers drew two walks and after a wild pitch, ELAC intentionally walked Richman to load the bases. Catcher Mark Manuel, who had two hits earlier, grounded out to shortstop for the last out as Huskies' reliever Juian Hernandez picked up the save.
Richman, playing third base but also has played played at four other positions so far this season, upped his SCC-leading runs total to 38 with two more crosses of the plate. He raised his batting average to .396, now second in the conference, and his on-base percentage of .522 is also second among South Coast players.
"Bryan does so many things well, but one of his strongest attributes is he simply executes pretty much every type of offensive play with efficiency," said PCC head coach Pat McGee. "His baseball knowledge is ahead of many players at this level and beyond. He runs the bases as well as anyone and he hits with a purpose."
PCC managed to knock around Huskies ace Nathan Mertens, the conference strikeouts leader who happened to pitch at PCC last season. Pasadena batted through the entire lineup in a 5-run, third inning against the one-time Lancer as centerfielder Tyler Garcia hit a 2-RBI single. Richman started the rally with a line base hit to center. Mertens allowed 13 hits and seven earned runs in six innings of work while getting a no decision.
Also in the game, leftfielder Thomas Villanueva was 2-for-3 with a triple and two walks, Nahra 2-for-4 with three RBI, and first baseman Adrian Roman 2-for-4 on two doubles.
Richman makes the tag during the ELAC defeat.
