By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor

Numbers alone can’t fully measure the worth of a player or coach.

But numbers alone made Pat McGee the Pasadena area’s best (high school or college) coach over the 2016-17 sports calendar season.

And while McGee had much more of an impact than just wins and losses, we’ll keep to the numbers first to make our point.

The 44-year old took over a program three years ago that went 1-20 in South Coast Conference play.

In 2014, PCC was ranked No. 87 out of 88 JC programs in the state, and in 2017, the Lancers finished 75 slots better at No. 12.

In just his third year, PCC’s baseball program has gone from the punching bag to the puncher.

The Lancers won their first conference title since 1972 by going 15-7.

Their 26 wins were most since 1967.

PCC also swept Riverside City College in the first round of the regional playoffs for the program’s first playoff series win in FIFTY YEARS.

Their season ended the following week at El Camino College, but not before a program was changed from the inside out.

For all the drastic improvements at PCC, he was named the SCC Coach of the Year.

For those who think maybe this was a one-hit wonder, think again.

In each of his three seasons, McGee’s Lancers have made upward movement in their pitching staff as well as with their bats.

The year before he took over, PCC’s team batting average was a pathetic .223.

In 2017, the Lancers hit a collective 74 points higher at .297.

They’ve also nearly tripled the 2014 output this season in hits, runs and RBIs.

And isn’t just offensively that has seen it’s numbers drastically improve in the McGee era.

PCC pitchers have seen their team ERA drop nearly two runs over the past three years.

“I really believe it’s one of the greatest coaching achievements in recent PCC sports history,” PCC Sports Information Director Robert Lewis said. “This was a conference champion team at an off-campus facility where there is no walk to the field from the classroom, going up against all of these established strong South Coast Conference programs like Mt. San Antonio, Cerritos, and East Los Angeles with nice facilities, fields in proximity on campus. It really makes a difference. You are asking players to drive a few miles each way for practices and then games.”

McGee credited his players and coaches.

Said McGee: “For the first time in my three seasons, we were able to excel in all areas of the game. We played great defense as we have come accustomed to expect from this group, we improved offensively and ran the bases in a manner to constantly create pressure for our opponents. However, the greatest improvements came on the pitching side under the continued guidance and leadership of Nicolas Calderaro. The excellence and consistency this group gave us game in and game out was the difference once we got into conference play, all while overcoming a number of in-season setbacks.The competitive innings we got from our starters, followed up by the solid season by our bullpen at the end of games, allowed us to wear down our opponents from the offensive side.”

The players certainly earned their share of the accolades.

Jeremy Conant was the big dude with the big bat, who also earned the title of conference MVP.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound first baseman set a school record with 128 career hits in his two seasons in Pasadena. He hit .429 with 67 hits and 44 RBI this year.

“I think coach McGee was able to steer this program in the right direction because of his dedication and knowledge of the game,” Conant said. “One thing I have always respected about him was his patience. He was never the coach that overreacted after a loss, he was always confident in all of our abilities. He was always the first person to defend the players, whether it be a chirpy opponent or a fan on the other side. He was always there for us. He has helped my game out so much and I will never be able to thank him enough.”

How has McGee been able to turn around a program that not too long ago was considered an automatic win by its opponents?

First, it’s his ability to recruit.

And that may sound much easier than it really is.

While most quality high school players desire to go straight from the prep field onto a division 1 campus, California junior colleges are loaded with future D-1 players that need to bide their time for the right opportunity.

To be able to sell his vision, though, at a school that was a laughingstock for decades is another testament to McGee’s skills as a communicator.

Ask any guy in that dugout and they’ll tell you his passion and knowledge of baseball is second to none, that McGee and his coaches are the first to arrive and last to leave and their concern for the player’s well being in and out of the classroom is unmatched.

Conant is a perfect example.

The PCC sophomore and MVP of the SCC lived walking distance to Chaffey College, but McGee convinced him it was going to be worth the 90-minute drive (because of congested daily traffic on the 210 freeway) to attend PCC and play for his program.

After two solid seasons at PCC, Conant earned a scholarship to play at the University of New Mexico and six of his teammates will also continue their playing careers elsewhere next season, and with thanks to Pat McGee.

His players will also tell you he’s a stickler for details and repetition until they get it right.

He’s a hard-ass, but he’s also got the biggest heart for his players.

There isn’t an amount of time in phone calls or emails McGee won’t sacrifice to make sure his players are able to continue their careers at the next level.

To think about all those hours of his life that McGee dedicates to these young men and yet he’s not even a full-time employee at PCC makes his success even more impressive and appreciated by those around him.

McGee teaches at Vernon Middle School in Montclair, but with continued success like this, he’ll most certainly get offers in the near future from quality high school and college programs if he’s not locked into a full-time gig somewhere.

But for now, he’s all about his PCC Lancers, and they are all about coach Pat McGee.

“A willingness to learn, be “coached” and implement a mentality that requires a commitment to the process over results led to many great individual seasons,” McGee said. “We will miss the leadership of this sophomore class and standard they set for how we expect a Pasadena City College baseball player to conduct themselves on and off the field. However, we make a commitment to these young men during the recruiting process that we will prepare them to play baseball at the next level as a much better person and player. To be able to honor that commitment for these young men who believed in our message enough to begin their collegiate careers at PCC is a fitting end to a rewarding season.”

And with all that said, and as proud as McGee is of his program, and the respect they have rightfully earned, his ‘World Series’ is coming home each night to his wife Jennifer and sons Brody and Carson.

It’s all about family, whether that be in Upland where he lives or Pasadena where’s he changing lives and (athletic) careers for the better.

Quotable:

PCC Athletics Director Tony Barbone: “Pat and his staff have done an outstanding job of establishing a new reputation for our program. Not only have all facets of the program improved, but we are very proud of the commitment Pat makes each day to changing lives for the better. He demonstrates that on a consistent basis as shown by the high percentage of sophomores that move on to four-year institutions to continue their academic and athletic careers. He is a committed worker, believes in the value of education and is dedicated to his players. That is the exact type of player and assistant coach he was for us at Azusa Pacific. I am not surprised by the turn around, as that was our plan when we made the hire. Pat had been a qualified head coach for many years and the ability to lead is there. It just needed to be the right time for he and his family. Luckily for PCC, and our student-athletes, the time is now.”

PCC pitcher Race Gardner: “We had a great season this year because of Coach McGee. He’s a winner. Winning is what he does. He’s a natural leader, and his energy and passion towards the game made every single one of us want better as a program. I can’t thank him enough for the opportunity he gave me to play for a winning program.”

PCC second baseman Andres Kim: “I have a ton of respect for Coach McGee and the way he goes about his business. His affection for the game is truly contagious and playing for him has been one of the best learning experiences of my life.”

PCC outfielder Shane Ogata: “Coach McGee led us to what we accomplished together as a team, because he and his coaching staff always pushed us every day during practice, believed in each and everyone of us, and also kept us locked in. He is one of the best coaches I have ever played for throughout my baseball career. He turned me into a better person off the field and a better player as well. He deserves everything (coaching awards and praise) that happened for him this year, and I am looking forward to next year with this great program.”

PCC pitcher Nick Esparza: “Coach McGee was the type of coach that would always try to get the best out of you, and where you liked it or not. He never gave up on me, even though I have had some problems in school and life. He was always there whenever you needed him. He treated me like a son and I appreciated that. He guided me in the right path of success. I was his first recruit when he first got this job and he saw a potential and talent in me. I gave everything I had every day for his program, because of how much he’s influenced me to be a better player and person.”

PCC Sports Information Director Robert Lewis: “One reason why Pat was successful is that he understood to recruit the best players in the area, he had to go after it. Nico Calderaro, his assistant coach is young and understands today’s Juco ball players a lot as he was one at Mt. SAC. Coach McGee presents a program where he is marketing his skill set as a coach to teach these kids fundamentals that will potentially take them all to either a 4-year university scholarship/and or even a possibility of going professional. Honestly, I never thought it was possible and I’ve been the PCC SID for 26 years seeing many failures and disappointments. Pat flat out earned it. He’s not full-time, and that’s the amazing part of his coaching this program to 26 wins and a title. Amazing feat.”

Maranatha High School baseball coach Matt Shupper: “As someone who shares a field with him daily, I’ve seen PCC at its low point before he came and now a place where people want to be and to play for him. He is tough, but he cares about his guys. He has a great baseball mind , but there’s so much more than that. When I send players to PCC, I know they will leave better players and better men, because of Pat.”

PCC players continuing their careers next season:
Jeremy Conant- University of New Mexico
Alex Briggs- Long Island Brooklyn
Andres Kim- South Carolina Upstate
Jesse Hanckel- Azusa Pacific
Nick Esparza- Georgetown College of Kentucky
Sergio Valenzuela- Saint Mary’s
Chris Brown- United States Air Force Academy