Pictured L-R: Jakob Guardado & Coleman Mitchell

College Baseball:

PCC heads into Friday’s So Cal Regional against Glendale Community College as the clear underdog.

And the Lancers would have it no other way.

GCC, the No. 7 seed and Western State (South) Conference champions, will host No. 18 PCC, in a best-of-three series.

The Vaqueros have advantages in games won (29 to 25), as well as team batting average (.330 to .297), hits (493-408), runs scored (374-308) and team home runs (61-24).

If the series turns into a slugfest, it probably won’t end well for PCC.

But….

If the Lancers pitching staff doesn’t get stretched too thin, guys like Coleman Mitchell, Jakob Guardado, Rider Gardner, Kyle Noell, Ben Griffith and others give Pat McGee’s program a chance of upsetting the Vaqueros.

PCC’s has a lower team ERA (4.65 to 5.51) than Glendale.

They’ve allowed 22 fewer runs than the Vaqueros, and the Lancers have walked 52 less batters.

Coleman Mitchell and Jakob Guardado anchor PCC’s pitching staff.

Mitchell is 8-3, with a 3.23 ERA.

He’s walked 16 and fanned 34 in 75 1/3 innings.

Guardado’s stats are far more impressive than they might appear.

He’s 6-5, with a 3.74 ERA.

Guardado has issued 18 walks, while striking out 61 in 77 innings.

A few weeks back, Guardado went the distance in victories over LBCC and Mt. SAC, on a Monday and that Saturday, respectively.

PCC closer, Rider Gardner, is tied for the state lead in saves.

Reedley’s Elijah Acosta, Santa Rosa’s Connor Charpiot, Palomar’s Mike Villani and Gardner all have nine saves thus far in 2023.

The Vaqueros have seven guys with at least 39 hits.

Andrew Cisneros (.395, 51 hits, 33 runs, 19 RBIs & eight doubles), Adrian Gonzalez (.368, 49 hits, 45 runs, 42 RBIs, seven doubles five triples & nine HR’s), Nick Sutherlin (.367, 54 hits, 32 runs, 46 RBIs, 11 doubles, two triples & eight HR’s), Brandon Nguyen (.367, 51 hits, 28 runs, 32 RBIs, 11 doubles, two triples and four HR’s), Jackson Benattar (.362, 59 hits, 47 runs, 28 RBIs, 12 doubles, one triple and four HR’s), Ricky Perez (.345, 39 hits, 33 runs, 21 RBIs, eight doubles & four HR’s), and Joey Craig (.309, 42 hits, 46 runs, 46 RBIs, eight doubles, three triples & 17 HR’s) make up the heart of the GCC offense.

Craig’s 17 home runs are just two fewer than Chabot’s Brian DuRoff, who leads the state with 19.

Boon Fay (6-0, 3.15 ERA, 18 walks & 69 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings) and Julian Jaramillo (4-1, 4.94 ERA, 25 walks & 44 strikeouts in 51 IP) lead the Vaqueros pitching staff.

Jake Trabbie is having a remarkable sophomore campaign for the Lancers.

Trabbie leads PCC in average (.360), hits (59), doubles (20), triples (four) and RBIs (46).

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise offensively is that of Toshiki Kuriya.

Kuriya is second in average (.352) hits (50) and RBIs (38).

His six home runs ties Kuriya with Patrick Garcia for a team high, and he leads the Lancers with a .478 on-base percentage.

It would be hard to argue that Jakob Guardado hasn’t contributed in more ways than anyone in the Lancers dugout.

Along with his massive contributions on the hill, Guardado is batting .318 with 35 hits, 26 runs and 34 RBIs.

Guardado has tallied nine doubles, one triple & three home runs.

Aryonis Harrison is considered one of the best outfielders in PCC history, but it’s his speed that sets him apart from most.

Out of the leadoff spot, Harrison is batting .315, with 47 hits, 52 runs, 16 RBIs, four doubles, one home run and 20 stolen bases.

Tommy Castillo has also played a big role in PCC’s success.

The former South Hills star is batting .310 with 45 hits, 37 runs, 31 RBIs, eight doubles, three triples & four home runs.

Damien Ureta (.298, 25 hits, 19 runs, nine RBIs, seven doubles & one HR) and Matthew Delgado (.283, 26 hits, 14 runs, 19 RBIs & three doubles)

have been invaluable members of this program is 2023.

PCC is No. 1 in the state in drawing walks (258), which is 88 more than GCC.

At the bottom of this story includes stats from both teams, both individually and collectively.

The first pitch on Friday is set for 2.

Lastly, I asked PCC coach Pat McGee to answer the following:

1- Based on what you know about Glendale, what will be key to beating them?

2- What do GCC do well?

3- I know baseball isn’t as complicated as most think, but what is most key in PCC advancing past GCC? In other words, what is a key indicator that PCC is playing successful baseball?

4- Who could be an x-factor or two for PCC? I know the stars names at least statistically, but is there a wild card guy who, if he steps up, really gives you guys a better chance to succeed?

Said Pat McGee:

1- “We will need to pitch well and play great defense as we have throughout the course of the 2023 season. Glendale is an excellent program and will make things difficult for us. We do not need to provide them any extra opportunities.
2- Glendale is an extremely well coached program with years of playoff experience. They will be as complete a team as we have played all year. They pitch, they hit and they run the bases extremely well.
3- When we throw strikes, play defense and execute offensively, we are in every game. We have to play the game the way we’ve been coached to play all season, nothing changes. For us, it’s never about who or where we are playing, it’s how we go about doing our jobs.
4- Everyone has a valuable role in this program and has to be prepared to contribute when their turn comes. Coaches, players & staff when it’s your turn, do your job to the best of your ability. These young men have been preparing for this moment all season and are excited to compete in the playoffs again.”

By the Numbers:
Records: P (25-15); G (29-11)
Conference Finish: (second in SCC); G (Western State South champs)
Runs Scored: P (308); G (374)
Runs Allowed: P (218); G (240)
Team ERA: P (4.65); G (5.51)
Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio: P (223-109); G (338-161)
Most Wins: P (Coleman Mitchell, 8); G (Boon Fay, 6)
Most Strikeouts: P (Jakob Guardado, 61); G (Boon Fay, 69)
Most Saves: P (Rider Gardner, 9); G (Tobias Plotkin & Brady Barbos, 2)
Team Batting Average: P (.297); G (.330)
Team Hits: P (408); G (493)
Most Hits: P (Jake Trabbie, 59); G (Jackson Benattar, 59)
Most RBIs: P (Jake Trabbie, 46); G (Nick Sutherlin & Joey Craig (46)
Most HR’s: P (Toshiki Kuriya, 6); G (Joey Craig, 17)
Stolen Bases: P (Aryonis Harrison, 20); G (Adrian Gonzalez, 13)
Team HR’s: P (24); G (61)
Glendale’s Home Record: 14-5
PCC’s Road Record: 11-6
Current Streak: P (won 6); G (lost 1)

PCC Pitching Leaders:
Coleman Mitchell (8-3, 3.23 ERA, 16 walks & 34 strikeouts in 75 1/3 IP)
Jakob Guardado (6-5, 3.74 ERA), 18 walks & 61 strikeouts in 77 IP)
Kyle Noell (3-1, 4.57 ERA, 22 walks & 34 strikeouts in 67 IP)
Rider Gardner (2-2, 2.76 ERA, nine saves, six walks & 25 strikeouts in 32 2/3 IP
Ben Griffith (3-1, 5.29 ERA, one save, 12 walks & 17 strikeouts in 32 1/3 IP

PCC Hitting Leaders:
Jake Trabbie (.360, 59 hits, 41 runs, 46 RBIs, 20 doubles, four triples & two HR’s)
Toshiki Kuriya (.352, 50 hits, 22 runs, 38 RBIs, six doubles, two triples & six HR’s)
Jakob Guardado (.318, 35 hits, 26 runs, 34 RBIs, nine doubles, one triple & three HR’s)
Aryonis Harrison (.315, 47 hits, 52 runs, 16 RBIs, four doubles & one HR)
Tommy Castillo (.310, 45 hits, 37 runs, 31 RBIs, eight doubles, three triples & four home runs)
Damien Ureta (.298, 25 hits, 19 runs, nine RBIs, seven doubles & one HR)
Matthew Delgado (.283, 26 hits, 14 runs, 19 RBIs & three doubles)

GCC Pitching Leaders:
Boon Fay (6-0, 3.15 ERA, 18 walks & 69 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings)
Julian Jaramillo (4-1, 4.94 ERA, 25 walks & 44 strikeouts in 51 IP)
Geo Hernandez (2-1, 6.16 ERA, 12 walks & 34 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings)
Tobias Plotkin (4-2, 2 saves, 4.85 ERA, 25 walks & 55 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings)

GCC Batting Leaders:
Andrew Cisneros (.395, 51 hits, 33 runs, 19 RBIs & eight doubles)
Adrian Gonzalez (.368, 49 hits, 45 runs, 42 RBIs, seven doubles five triples & nine HR’s)
Nick Sutherlin (.367, 54 hits, 32 runs, 46 RBIs, 11 doubles, two triples & eight HR’s)
Brandon Nguyen (.367, 51 hits, 28 runs, 32 RBIs, 11 doubles, two triples and four HR’s)
Jackson Benattar (.362, 59 hits, 47 runs, 28 RBIs, 12 doubles, one triple and four HR’s)
Ricky Perez (.345, 39 hits, 33 runs, 21 RBIs, eight doubles & four HR’s)
Joey Craig (.309, 42 hits, 46 runs, 46 RBIs, eight doubles, three triples & 17 HR’s)