PCC’s Halstead Provides Power, But Lancers Baseball Slumps

David Halstead powers this ball out of the park during PCC’s 13-4 loss to Mt. San Antonio Thursday at Brookside Park, image by Richard Quinton. 

David Halstead rocked a home run and a double in a display of power for Pasadena City College’s 6-foot-2, 230-pound freshman first baseman Thursday. But his longball efforts were but a lone brightspot in a week where the Lancers’ baseball team lost three South Coast Coast games in a span of four days.

Playing against the conference’s current hottest team, Mt. San Antonio College, PCC lost 13-4 at Brookside Park’s Jackie Robinson Memorial Field. The defeat followed double-digit, road setbacks against Mt. SAC, 12-1, on Tuesday, and East Los Angeles, 13-3, played Monday.

PCC’s record dropped to 4-15 overall and 2-6 in SCC play. The Mounties, who had a 5-RBI game from designated hitter Taylor Jimenez, improved to 15-6 and top the conference at 6-2. Mt. SAC is battling East LA and Long Beach in the first third of SCC action.

Halstead, from Eagle Rock High, launched his second home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth, a towering drive over the left-center field fence. It was one of only few mistakes made by Mt. SAC starter Phil Gonzalez, who pitched six innings, allowing four hits and just two runs. Halstead then roped a RBI double in the seventh inning. On top of his offense, Halstead made 10 putouts defensively, and showed some hustle on a foul ball in which he didn’t make the catch, but impressed the coaches with a full-out, diving attempt near the Mt. SAC dugout.

Trevor Gleason threw two innings of no-hit relief after a tough outing for PCC ace starter Will Emerson. The sophomore Emerson saw his record drop to 1-4 after allowing seven earned runs in six-plus innings. Emerson struck out five, giving him 40 Ks in 51 innings this season, which is good enough to be among the top five in the conference in whiffing opposing batters.

Third baseman Damian Santamaria and designated hitter Sean Stone each added two hits for the Lancers.

PCC hopes to end its current slide Saturday when it closes its 3-game series against the Mounties. First pitch is 12 noon at Mt. SAC.

Top of the News

Government

Campaign Contribution Limits Back Before Charter Task Force

Education

Pro-Palestine Demonstrations Break Out on College Campuses

Government

Key Questions About California’s Budget Deficit Remain Unanswered As Deadlines Loom