PCC Softball Blows Out Huskies In South Coast Conference Opener

Supported by an 8-run fourth inning, Pasadena City College sophomore pitcher Raeleen Fuentes hurled a 2-hitter as the righthander beat her former school, East Los Angeles, 10-0 Tuesday in the South Coast Conference softball opener at Robinson Park.

PCC batted around in the fourth inning, collecting seven hits. Pinch hitter Jahaira Badillo lined a 2-RBI single, shortstop Karina Moreno singled in a run, and Fuentes cleared the bases when her single to right skipped past the Huskies’ rightfielder for a 2-base error. Catcher Holly Riker-Sloan had given the team a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a 2-run base hit to left.

Overall, the Lancers (5-5) got two hits from centerfielder Cynthia McKeehan and leftfielder Brenda Rivas was 1-for-2 and made a diving catch on the game’s leadoff batter.

Fuentes (3-3 record) transferred from ELAC after her freshman season of 2014.

“We came out with a plan and stuck to it,” said PCC head coach Monica Tantlinger, also a former Huskie assistant coach before taking over the Lancers program in 2014. “We needed to start conference strong. We had a great day at Citrus, and a not so good day at Cuesta. Rivas has stepped up in left field with her defense. We switched middle infield positions with Moreno now at shortstop and (Anais) Sustayta moving to second base, which adds even more range on the right side. Both of our pitchers have been throwing well and throwing strikes. We’re coming together.”

The Lancers won both of their games at the Citrus Round Robin on Feb. 12. PCC opened with a brilliant pitching effort from freshman Alyssa Madrid, who hurled a 1-hit shutout as Riker-Sloan (2-run) and Derek Blow (3-run) belted the team’s first home runs of the season in beating Citrus, 6-0. Riker-Sloan is now the college’s all-time HR leader with 11 as she passed ’15 teammate Justine Zavala and Cindy Moore (1982-83), who were each tied with Holly at 10 going into this season.

Riker-Sloan’s historic homer went well over the center field fence and gave the Lancers a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Blow belted her bomb to CF as well in the sixth. McKeehan batted 2-for-4 with a RBI and leftfielder Rivas was 1-for-2 with a double.

Madrid retired the first 11 batters in order before Citrus catcher Celine Spathias singled to left for the Owls only hit. After hitting the next batter, Madrid put down Citrus’ last 10 batters in order to complete the victory.

PCC then held on to defeat Santa Ana, 7-6, in the next Citrus tourney contest. Riker-Sloan batted a perfect 4-for-4 with a RBI and first baseman Karen Najera went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. The Lancers totaled 12 hits as Blow and Moreno each had two hits. Pasadena led 7-3 but Santa Ana cut the lead to one after six innings. In the seventh, Madrid, who relieved winning pitcher Fuentes in the sixth, hit the first batter, but retired the next three hitters including a strikeout to earn the save.

At the Cuesta Round Robin on Feb. 13, the Lancers appeared tired from its long bus ride to San Luis Obispo and it showed in losing to Sacramento City, 4-1, then Cuesta, 1-0. PCC’s offense amounted to a RBI groundout by Blow as SCC pitcher Gabby Ortiz 2-hit the Lancers (including a double by Najera). PCC fared no better against host Cuesta as Cougars’ pitcher Demi Danell struck out 13 Lancers on a 4-hitter while Fuentes was the hard-luck losing pitcher on a 3-hitter. Rightfielder Jessica Regalado hit a double.

On Thursday, Feb. 18, the Lancers travel to face El Camino College-Compton Center.  First pitch is 2 p.m.