Friday was a day of celebration for the Pasadena City College softball team. From the team's honoring its nine sophomores with a ceremony involving the players' parents to winning a pair of games as part of a 3-way tourney hosted at PCC's off-campus Robinson Park field. And for good measure, Lancers head coach Monica Tantlinger reached her milestone win No. 100 in the team's 9-6 morning victory over Citrus. PCC closed the day, routing San Diego City College, 11-0, in five innings.
PCC upped its record to 22-12 overall as the Lancers have won 14 of their last 17 games, including now four straight. In the middle game, Citrus beat San Diego, 10-2, in six innings.
Tantingler's accomplishment has come in just five seasons running the program. Assistant coach Stephanie Marshall, who guides the pitching staff, has been there since victory No. 1 in 2014. Assistant Nolan Peralta is in his fourth season while second-year assistant Allison Lacey has been part of the 100 victories, first as an All-South Coast Conference catcher on Tantlinger's first PCC team and now as a coach.
"I knew that I wanted us to win both games, so I actually forgot about it until the girls sprayed me with water," Tantlinger said of hitting the century mark in victories. "It goes to show the talent that we are bringing in because it really is all about the players and their execution, and the support of my assistant coaching staff. It was a competitive game against Citrus, and I'm happy to achieve the milestone. Now we look forward to a big week ahead."
Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth, the Lancers took advantage of three Citrus errors and capped a 6-run rally on Angel Urbina's 2-RBI double. Jordan Lousararian (5-3 record) relieved and got the final out in the sixth inning and that earned her the pitching win.
In the afternoon win, Angel Wintercorn (9-5) threw four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out five and Lousararian pitched the final inning for the combined shutout. Sophomore Amber Ingram bombed a 3-RBI triple as part of a 7-run Lancers fourth inning. Urbina batted 2-for-2 with a walk. It was the pitching staff's ninth shutout this season.
The Lancers sophomores include Wintercorn, Lousararian, centerfielder Urbina, third baseman Angelica Lopez, catcher Jeneve Medrano, outfielders Briana Hernandez and Jazmine Cabrera, second baseman Alex Howard, and Ingram.
PCC returns to South Coast Conference North Division action next week in key home games against Chaffey on Tuesday, April 17, and Mt. San Antonio on Thursday, April 19. Both games have 2:30 p.m. first pitches. The Lancers also play a make-up SCC crossover road game at Cerritos College on Wednesday, April 18 (3 p.m.) and host Southwestern in a non-conference game on Friday, April 20 in a 12 p.m. start.
