Early Lead v. State #1 El Camino, But Softball Takes SCC Defeat

Jade Lopez in an at bat recently for PCC softball (photo by Richard Quinton).
Jade Lopez in an at bat recently for PCC softball (photo by Richard Quinton).

For a few innings, the Pasadena City College softball team showed it could hang with current state #1-ranked El Camino, taking a 2-0 lead on the Warriors going into the third inning. The Lancers though couldn't sustain the early momentum and dropped a 10-2 decision on Thursday afternoon.

PCC (0-6 overall, 0-2 in South Coast Conference play ) jumped ahead 1-0 in the second inning after sophomore leftfielder Lucero Alcaraz walked, advanced on a wild pitch then took off from second on a sacrifice bunt by third baseman Alexis Garcia, scoring on a throwing error.

In the third, the Lancers made it 2-0 as centerfielder Marissa Moreno reached on an infield single to third, second baseman Natalie Huelster ripped a liner off the glove of the first baseman for another hit, and letterman first baseman Adriana Valdez lined a RBI single up the middle. Huelster was thrown out at home on a bang-bang throw by El Camino centerfielder Jackie Ordonez that prevented a third run.

PCC starting pitcher Mariah Vazquez kept the Warriors' hard-hitting bats at bay with two shutout innings, helped by a diving catch by rightfielder Jade Lopez in the first inning. She was removed during the third inning after two hits and two walks and El Camino, undefeated at 8-0 and 3-0 in SCC action, responded with six runs to change the game's direction.

Valdez is hitting .286 with three RBI as the lefty is pacing a struggling Lancers offense. 

The Lancers have battled adversity as they will have to play on the road the entire 2025 season because of unsafe playing conditions at long-time home diamond at Robinson Park in the City of Pasadena. 

PCC looks for its first victory when it plays at East Los Angeles on Friday (Feb. 21) in a 1 p.m. conference contest.