VOLUME 111 ISSUE 11
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April 23, 2015
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EDITORIAL The board should have selected Miller as president PAGE 3>>
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NEW PRESIDENT CHOSEN
Philip McCormick and Matthew Kiewiet Staff Writers
Rajen Vurdien was selected by the Board of Trustees to be the next president of PCC during a special board meeting on Sunday afternoon. Vurdien, who is the current president at Fullerton College, will take over as president in June if he accepts the board’s offer. The board’s decision was unanimous, according to a PCC press release that was sent out after 4 p.m. on Monday.
“The board is pleased that our selection process worked so quickly and so well and thanks everyone involved for their hard work,” board president Berlinda Brown said in the release. Former Interim Superintendent Robert Miller, who was in the running for the job, will return to his previous position as senior vice-president of business and college services. “The board also sincerely thanks everyone involved for their hard work,” Brown said in the statement. Miller said in an email that he was “disappointed” with the board’s
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decision. “I am disappointed but respect the decision of the Board,” Miller said. “I love this college and community and will continue to work in the best interest of students. I look forward to working towards an orderly transition to Dr. Vurdien’s leadership and helping to assure his success.” Student Trustee Marshall Lewis made it clear that he was unhappy with the outcome. “The board was in the position to PRESIDENT page 2
Courtesy photo by Fullerton College Rajen Vurdien.
An animated scene at PCC U Building’s
fate waits on state funding Keely Damara Staff Writer
The furniture and other articles seen outside of the U Building over the last few weeks is not a sign of the imminent demolition of the building that was deemed structurally unsound back in 2012 but rather part of an effort to use it for temporary storage of salvaged items from other projects. Reuben Smith, executive director of facilities services, said that the school is currently storing salvaged items from other renovation projects across campus in the first floor of the U Building until a salvage company can come pick them up. In addition, the furniture still left in good condition in the U Building is being sorted and put to use. “We’re trying to repurpose as much furniture Erica Hong/Courier as we possibly can,” said Smith. “With the U Izeilda Saldivar, interaction design, uses the Maya animation software for her project in Joseph Micallef’s 3D Building also being offline, rather than buying modeling and animation class on Friday. Story on page 6 furniture and remodeling offices, we’re actually taking furniture from there and repurposing it to save the district money.” In September of last year, school officials becifically for scholarships,” said Bobbi “The scholarship funds we are raisKristen Luna lieved they’d be receiving funding from the state Abram, executive director of the PCC ing will help make a college education Managing Editor that was originally expected to be distributed in Foundation, in an email. “This event possible for the nearly 70 percent of 2017. That funding never arrived. has raised enough funds for over 100 With the Pasadena City College PCC’s 25,000 students who need finan“We actually never received that money from annual scholarships to be awarded in (PCC) Foundation raising $600,00 cial aid,” said John Gregory, president the state,” said Smith. “That was a mistake, 2016; and another 100 to be awarded annually for scholarships, they have of the PCC Foundation board of because when we submitted our final project successfully raised more than $950,000 each year in perpetuity.” directors, in an email. proposal and it was approved by the Chancellor’s The largest donations came from this year in net proceeds for scholDuring the last State of the Union Office, the funding was not available to us until the Wendy Munger and Leo Gumport arships awarded to PCC students address, President Obama proposed 2017.” through its first scholarship fundraiser, Endowment, Dorvin and Betty Leis Joe Simoneschi, executive director of business the “America’s College Promise” plan Charities, Inc., and KPCC. All have had “PCC Celebrates Student Success.” services at PCC, said that while he anticipates that would provide free tuition for a long-standing relationship with PCC “This is the first community fundcommunity college students. The PCC funding in the future, first the state needs to raise but the most substantial donation came raising event the Foundation has held FOUNDATION page 2 U BUILDING page 2 for the purpose of raising funds spefrom Dorvin and Betty Leis.
Foundation raises more than $950,000
I N S I D E
SCENE
A look at the plays and many performances on campus
PAGES PAGE 44&&55>> >>
PULITZER Three actors reflect on award-winning playwriter’s life
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NEWS
2 COURIER
U BUILDING
Continued from page 1 funding by passing a bond. Even then, we may still need to wait in line for funds. “It is our understanding that the Board of Governor’s supports our need,” said Simoneschi. “However, there is no time table for an anticipated award of State funds. In the event the State passes a successful bond, funding will be distributed based on the priority list established by the Chancellor’s Office.” While the state-approved $54.5 million construction project may be at a standstill, Smith said he’s trying to find other solutions to at least tear down the building and utilize the
PRESIDENT
Continued from page 1 make the right decision supported by students, faculty, staff and the community,” Lewis said. “And they failed—again.” Board members did not immediately return emails requesting comment. Academic Senate president Eduardo Cairo mentioned that he was encouraged that the senate would continue moving forward under the new president as he announced the selection of Vurdien to the Academic Senate during their meeting today. The Faculty Association will begin negotiations with the District once again in the fall of 2015, according to FA president
space—even if it means replacing it with temporary modular structures. One proposal is to have the school district front the money for the demolition of the U Building, which he estimates could cost between $2 and $3.5 million, with the hope of being reimbursed by the state in the future. “It all depends on what we’re going to do,” said Smith. “It could be $2 million, it could be $3.5 million if you’re going to go straight into construction we could repurpose the site for two to three years or so, so that’s kind of why we’re kind of up in the air on it.” Simoneschi said that any plan to demolish the vacant building
April 23, 2015
or to construct a new one would likely take years. “The district is currently working on a Centennial Facili-
ties Master Plan (CFMP), and we are reviewing options related to the U Building,” said Simoneschi. “However, that process will
take a number of years and may not be the best approach when the State funding may come in sooner than the CFMP.” A proposed California Public Education Facilities Bond Initiative was approved this year for circulation to contend for the 2016 ballot. The measure would allow the state to sell $9 billion in general obligation bonds—$2 billion of which would be allocated to community colleges— to fund K-12 and community college facilities. The measure must collect voter signatures in 150 days amounting to at least 5 percent of the number of votes cast for governor in the last election to be eligible for the 2016 ballot.
Julie Kiotas. FOUNDATION “I do not know Vurdien, Continued from page 1 but in my brief time in meetings with him, he seems to be Foundation fully supports the very reasonable,” she said. “I proposal. hope that we can find common “‘America’s College Promise’ ground and continue towards a will prompt students, who may positive working relationship.” never have dreamed it was possiVurdien has been the presible, to attend college,” Gregory dent at Fullerton College since said. “The Pasadena City College 2010 and before that was vice Foundation has been raising president of instruction at Sadfunds for scholarships for 35 dleback College for six years. years, and that will remain our He also currently sits on the top priority. The continuing supexecutive board of the Califorport of our donors will be even nia State University Fullerton more important now because Doctor in Education Leadership the President’s plan will encourprogram. age more students to pursue a Patricia Hsieh, president of college education. Donors will San Diego Miramar College, was be needed to bridge the gap between the students’ ability to pay the third finalist being considand the full cost of attendance.” ered for the superintendent job.
Donors of $5,000 or more have the opportunity to start and name their own fund, and donations of less than $5,000 will go to support the Student Success Scholarship Fund. “This milestone means that PCC students will have more opportunities to apply for and receive scholarships than ever before in our history,” Abram said. “Going forward, this means that the Foundation will have a stronger scholarship program than ever before, the Foundation will have more visibility in the community and has become a top-of-mind non-profit organization that community philanthropists will continue to support with their donations.” With this event, there have been two kinds of scholarships
that have been created: Annual Scholarships, a one-time scholarship that is given each year; and Endowed Scholarships, a scholarship fund that is created where the funds will be held in an investment account and only the interest on the account will be awarded, allowing a scholarship to be given each year in perpetuity. The event will take place on Saturday, May 16 on campus with a variety of student entertainment along with a display of Pasadena’s first 3D projection mapping. Once known as the Student Fund Association, the PCC Foundation provides student scholarships and faculty grant funding in support of PCC.
Kristen Luna/Courier The exterior of the U-building on April 13. The U-building has been closed since 2012.
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Courier
2014 JACC General Excellence Award-Winner Editor-in-Chief Philip McCormick Managing Editor Kristen Luna News Editor Matthew Kiewiet Online Editor Justin Clay and Mick Donovan Opinion Editor Hannah Gonzales Features Editor Mick Donovan A&E Editor Anthony Martinez Lifestyle Editor Ashley Park Sports Editor Daron Grandberry Asst. Sports Editor David O’Connor Photo Editor Nagisa Mihara Online Photo and Graphics Editor Daniel Valencia Asst. Online Photo Editor Traece Craig Scene Editor Keely Damara Staff Writers: Ahmad Akkaoui, Daniel Axume, Nataly Chavez, Alex Chhuon, Keely Damara, Alan Flores, Monique LeBleu, Samantha Molina, Neil Protacio, Luis Rodriguez, Sammy Wu Staff Photographers: Traece Craig, Victoria De La Torre, Mick Donovan, Shaunee Edwards, Michelle Gonzalez, Eric Haynes, Erica Hong, Kristen Luna, Mary Nurrenbern, Michael Osborne, Scott Spencer, Daniel Valencia, Tiffany Yip, Max Zeronian Faculty Adviser Nathan McIntire Photo Adviser Tim Berger Advertising Manager Daniel Nerio
The Courier is published weekly by the Pasadena City College Journalism Department and is a free-speech forum. Editorials and comments are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the position of the institution and its administration, student government or that of the Pasadena Area Community College District. The Courier is written and produced as a learning experience for student writers, photographers and editors in the Journalism Department. Phone: (626) 585-7130 Fax: (626) 585-7971 Advertising (626) 585-7979 Office: 1570 E. Colorado Blvd., CC-208 Pasadena, CA 91106-3215 © Copyright 2015 Courier. All rights Reserved.
OPINION
COURIER
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Editorial: Another board blunder
The decision has been made and Fullerton College’s Rajen Vurdien will be the next president of PCC, but the Board of Trustees’ choice wasn’t the one the campus needed. There’s long been a trend of the board turning the cold shoulder to community input, even when faculty members have argued that interim president Robert Miller was the best choice out of the three candidates. “I think the decision to go with Vurdien as President was a hasty and not well discussed decision for our college President,” said Jordyn Orozco, president of the Associated Students. “Miller was the candidate the college needed at this time as he had shown what he could do in just one year of being interim. I had hoped that the board would
have chosen a candidate that was best for the students, but that simply was not the case” Student trustee Marshall Lewis echoed Orozco’s sentiment, saying that during the time he and the board spent gathering information, they had heard a lot of support for Miller. Even past president of the Faculty Association Roger Marheine supported Miller in a letter to the board, saying that Miller had “stopped the bleeding” and brought great leadership to the position. The board has had to deal with no confidence votes and turbulent shared governance meetings in which open communication seemed to have been severed. Recently, however, Miller seemed to have been improving the overall environment of the
campus. He seemed like the likely choice for the board. He was someone who could continue to help bridge the gap between the board and the campus. The board’s motto seems to be “lets move forward.” Board president Berlinda Brown said in a press release that the board looks forward to a new era at PCC. Maybe the board’s motto should be “hold your horses” so they can take in more of the community’s input. If the board didn’t want Miller long term, they should have at least extended his contract for another year or two until we were past issues such as accreditation. Accreditation is a process that has been going on for a while now and to throw someone new into it this late in the
game is simply unwise. What the school needs now is someone who knows what this community needs and that person should have been Miller. With Vurdien, there are questions that beg to be asked. Since 2013, he has been looking for another president’s position. He applied at Rio Hondo, Cerritos, and Glendale between 2013 and 2015, even though he had his contract extended by Fullerton’s Board of Trustees at its meeting in May 2013. Why apply for a job when you have a stable job? What’s done is done, however, and it is yet to be seen what kind of president Vurdien will be. The board should take more time on decisions that will have huge impacts on the community, such as this one, in the future.
Anthony Martinez Staff Writer
self-control over their lives. Of course, this is a decision that not only affects the patient, but their family and friends. There’s no doubt that a family member explaining their planned death is an emotionally heavy topic to hear. However, it’s the patient’s decision to die with their dignity intact, to live their life to its fullest and end it before their condition worsens to the point of hardly living at all. In a tremendously difficult situation such as a family member expressing their planned death, relatives and friends should show support rather than convincing the patient to reconsider. Respecting their decision and making every moment into a memory is the most appropriate response. Trying to change one’s mind only causes more pain than what they may already be experiencing. By choosing to take their own life while they are fully aware of their condition, patients are saving their loved ones the possible pain of pulling the plug if they fall into a vegetative state. At least in this case, they consciously have control over their lives and keep the pressure of deciding whether or not ending life support is morally correct off their loved ones’ minds. Enactment of the bill would be a step forward for California and hopefully create a domino effect across the nation. Currently, only Washington and Vermont have laws similar to the Death with Dignity Act while terminally ill patients “have a constitution right to obtain aid in dying” in
New Mexico, according to Time. Montana does not have such a law, though doctors are protected from legal action in the event they write out a prescription for lethal drugs at a patient’s request. For patients in the other 45 states, their only option to die through medically-assisted suicide is to travel to one of these five states. Now, that’s not an entirely realistic option; the time and money required to travel to these states puts further strain on patients and their families. Since patients have a limited amount of time left in the first place, leaving them to cross state borders takes away from time better spent with
the people they care about most in a setting that makes them feel comfortable. In order for this barrier to be broken down, the public needs to understand the struggles that these people are going through and advocate for a nationwide implementation of such a law. Of course, there will be opposition to this sort of move, just like any other topic that may be controversial in the slightest manner. But opponents need to ask themselves one question: isn’t it better to pass on with your sense of self-worth rather than death by a deteriorating body shutting itself off?
Terminally ill have right to die with dignity
“My dream is that every terminally ill American has access to the choice to die on their own terms with dignity.” These were the words of Brittany Maynard, a terminally ill brain cancer patient who decided to end her life through medically-assisted suicide under Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act. With the publicity of her story, Maynard created a dialogue about terminally ill patients’ right to end their lives peacefully on their own terms. A similar bill in California, SB 128, or the End of Life Option Act, passed the state’s senate back in March. The law would give terminally ill patients, diagnosed by a physician, the right to lethal medication, according to the bill’s text. Given that patients have to be diagnosed as terminally ill by a physician before they can even request a prescription and that patients must be “competent,” there should be no opposition towards the bill if this were a perfect world. As tough as the decision to take one’s own life is, much less actually going through with it, the choice is ultimately up to the patient. Though their body may not be completely healthy, they still have the right to autonomy over their body, even if that results in death. Refusing patients their wishes, no matter how grim, is a violation of their sense of
VOICES: Should California pass a law allowing physician-assisted deaths for terminally ill?
“Yes. It’s a person’s right to choose whether or not they want to live or not. I don’t think a physician should go to jail if he helps them make a medical decision.” Noah Green, business law instructor
“I’m all for it as long as the person is aware and it’s something they really want. They’re going to be dying and suffering anyways so I would think yes.” Laura Ramirez, undeclared
Note to Readers
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“If that’s what the patient wants and they’re ready to die, then I think we should…it’s their freedom of right.” Erika Tevez, psychology
“I feel it should depend on what was going on how ill the person is but yes, I think the law should pass here.” Bethany Rovalcaba, psychology
Reporting by: Kristen Luna Photos by: Nagisa Mihara
SCE
4 COURIER
Nagisa Mihara/Courier Dancers perform the piece “Double Crossed” in a dance production of “Remixed and Reimagined” during a dress rehearsal at Sexson Auditorium on Tuesday, April 21. The dance piece was choreographed by student Johan Sangalang.
Sister Angelica, played by B whom she hasn’t heard from latter part of the 17th Centu
T Co
End of Se Mick Donovan/Courier Danielle Ramirez performs the piece “Table for Two.”
Max Zeronian/Courier The Lancer Jazz Choir performs at Westerbeck Recital Hall on Sunday, April 19. The choir performed several songs paying tribute to late members of the jazz community.
Vocalist/g Westerbe of Baker’s
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April 23, 2015
Eric Haynes/Courier Belgoña Bilbao in the opera “Suor Angelica,” is hoping for a visit from her rich family m in seven years in PCC’s Sexton Auditorium on Sunday, April 12. The play takes part in ury.
The FinaL ountdown
Eric Haynes/Courier Sisters Osmina and Genovieffa (played by Vanessa Arias-Herrera, left, and Rana Ebrahimi) pass out items for the convent in the opera “Suor Angelica.”
emester Student Productions
Eric Haynes/Courier guitarist Andrea Barker entertains a live audience at PCC’s eck Hall on Sunday, April 11. The performance was a part s farewell concert.
Tiffany Yip/Courier Cookie Zhao plays the zither during the Spring Concert featuring the PCC Chinese Music Ensemble in the Westerbeck Hall on April 18.
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April 23, 2015
A&E
Animation class brings imagination to life Nataly Chavez Staff Writer
Each year, animators push technology to the limits in creating refined characters and complex worlds. And animation professor Joseph Micallef encourages his young animators to strive for exactly that. Due to unforeseen organization issues regarding animation classes this semester, Micallef ’s only class combines both beginning and advanced students simultaneously. “It’s certainly a challenge for them to take on all this information,” said Micallef of the Maya 3D Animation program. “One of the things I try to convey in the class is that they have to be adaptable to learning new tools.” With a vast understanding of animation, the incorporation of animated videos in the manufacturing process, and knowledge of 3D printing from a previous job, Micallef is an instructor committed to teaching what industry professionals currently use and making a career as an animator attainable. “Some of these skills are transferable to whole other industries,” he said. “Initially, when you enter animation you think the primary source of income will be working for a production studio, but now with 3D printing it opens up the doorway to a lot more.”
Erica Hong/Courier Student Sergio Marmarian, graphic design, creates a dragon with the Maya software in Joseph Micallef’s 3D modeling and animation class in room CA304 on Friday.
According to Micallef, animation is “no longer just in film and video games.” Fashion, culinary arts, and engineering are just some fields that animators have delved into. Additionally, 3D printing allows physical representation of animation designs that include shapes and textures like plastics, ceramics, nylon, and metals. The creative possibilities are endless. Yet it’s not without its challenges. Near the end of another semester, students like
Pulitzer poet inspires
Nataly Chavez Staff Writer
A night of reflection on the life and work of August Wilson, a Pulitzer winning playwright and poet, brought together three veteran actors last Thursday at the Center for the Arts. Wilson was best known for writing about the African-American experience in a series of ten plays called “The Pittsburgh Cycle.” They were set in Pittsburgh, Wilson’s hometown, and took place in a different decade of the 20th Century. Ella Joyce, Montae Russell and Michole Briana White all have a wide array of acting experience that spans from theatre to television and they marvelled at their opportunity to have worked with Wilson and the impact that had on their skills as actors. “August was pretty much at every rehearsal. He was always so quiet, but he played very close attention to everything,” said White of her first play at the Huntington Theater in Boston. “He was mindful of everything that was going on in the room and what the actors were bringing to the table.” The production was very much a life changing experience for White, who at the time had been acting in “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” and “Family Matters” and not much theater. “Nor any Black plays for that matter,” recalled White. Wilson remains a strong source
of inspiration for Russell, who writes to this day along with a large picture of Wilson in his office. “I often look at that picture and say, ‘If August was here, would he be procrastinating? No he would not,’” said Russell. Russell had the unique chance to meet Wilson as a teen back in Pittsburgh. It was a time when Wilson was beginning to become involved in Black Horizons on the Hill, a Pittsburgh theater company in the late 1960s. It was there that Wilson recognized Russell’s talent and persuaded him to pursue acting professionally. Wilson went so far as to write Russell a letter of recommendation to attend Rutgers University in New Jersey. “This was a gentlemen who quit high school, but he educated himself. He took on one of the most incredible mission of all time, telling the story of our people in every century,” said Russell with admiration. Joyce, who began as an audition reader, remembers Wilson enjoying her performances and saying to her, “Baby, I don’t know what’s wrong with Lloyd (the director)! We gonna get you in one of ‘em plays one of these days baby!” Her time finally came with “Two Trains Running” in 1990. “It was never like the play was being directed, it was more like a peek into these peoples lives and they were moving full speed ahead and it mesmerized the critics once it got to Broadway,” said Joyce.
Izeila Saldivar, an interaction design major, is just one of Micallef ’s students focused on finishing the final project. For Saldivar, it is a 20-second scene where she was able to bring her original character “Dysis” to life with a very Goth and surreal touch. “The scene is basically Dysis in a dream and she is going on an adventure,” said Saldivar referring to a staircase levitating up toward a door. “I’m not sure where the door leads just yet.”
The character of Dysis alone took Saldivar approximately three days to complete, including the “rigging of the skeleton” which makes her mobile. As of now, it can take Saldivar about three hours to create another character. At the advanced level is Matt Shultheis, another interaction design major and one of three other students who ended up in Micallef ’s class when the game development class was cancelled. Having thought ahead, Shul-
theis fiddled around with the Maya program over the summer and learned some of the basics. “I got a grasp on how structures work and the function and mechanics of it working. But it’s not a program you can master in six months, but years,” said Shultheis. Shultheis and the others have been focused on incorporating animated figures they create in Maya and transferring them to another program for a third-person shooter game they are multi-tasking on. They even went as far as re-arranging the curriculum they would have followed in a game development class by using a “Unity Engine” and switching to the “Unreal Engine.” Aside from the technical aspect of animation, Micallef believes a good animator “should be more concerned about how to tell a good story and work with what you have.” Contrary to what many might believe, drawing well isn’t a requirement. “It’s about if you can adapt to the tools, be comfortable with technology, and of course having a creative imagination,” Micallef said. “You have to be committed to the story. You have to be observant of life. You don’t want to be behind the computer all the time.”
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SPORTS
8 COURIER
Softball unable to clinch playoff berth Daron Grandberry Sports Editor
Despite a fearless effort from sophomore second baseman Justine Zavala and freshman outfielder Yecenia Cardenas, the Lancers softball team was unable to keep their playoff hopes alive after losing 5-2 to El Camino College-Compton Center Tuesday afternoon at Robinson Park. Although the Lancers already improved their win total by eight, finishing 21-17 overall and 9-12 in the South Coast Conference, Tuesday’s heartbreaking defeat eliminated any hopes the Lancers had of claiming an at-large playoff bid in Monica Tantlinger’s second season as head coach. “Obviously the feeling I have right now is defeated, but overall this was a good season for PCC,” Tantlinger said. “We broke a lot of records, we broke the homerun record, we broke the RBI record and we had the best start since 2006. There were some really good things that we did and this season was a step in the right direction.” After falling behind 2-0 in the second inning, the Lancers scored their first points in the bottom of the second inning thanks to the stealing prowess of Cardenas, whose 34 stolen bases on the season ranked third in the state. After a single to left field to get on base, Cardenas would go on to steal second, third and home to cut Compton’s lead 2-1. The Lancers displayed a much more focused defensive effort in the top of the third inning, allowing freshman pitcher Brianna
Max Zeronian/Courier Shortstop Anais Sustayta throws to third baseman Alejandra Grimaldo for the third out during Tuesday’s 5-2 loss.
Lopez to control the tempo with her fast-pitch and record three straight outs. “Honestly, I was thinking about just pitching,” Lopez
said after falling behind early. “I know I have a good defense behind me, I just let them hit the ball and let my teammates get the outs. It was fine, I knew
it was nine against nine and not one against nine so I was confident.” In the bottom of the third inning the Lancers tied the score at 2-2 with a record-tying homerun by Zavala. Zavala tied freshman catcher Holly Riker-Sloan’s PCC single-season record for the most homeruns, 10, with her long-ball over the centerfield gate. She finished her Lancers career batting 2-for-3 against Compton with one RBI. “I just kept telling the team that it was really up to them,” Tantlinger said. “I felt Compton was giving us some opportunities and if we would cash in we would get the result we wanted. The thing is we fought to the very end. We didn’t get the result we wanted but we fought ‘til the end.” “Coach Tantlinger is the most inspirational person I know,” freshman first baseman Derek “Mudder” Blow said. “She does her best to keep us going, she never gets down, and even when we get down she’s always inspirational and very motivating.” The Lancers finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the SCC with Compton and East Los Angeles. All three teams had 9-12 conference records. “I think we’ve grown tremendously, we’re a completely different team,” Brown said. “At the beginning of the season we hoped to do better in league because we kind of started rocky, but we finished really strong after hitting a few bumps.” After Compton used home runs by Jessica Arias and Viviana Rivera to take a three-run lead,
PCC mounted a last-inning rally. Singles by shortstop Anais Sustayta and right fielder Mariah Quintana sandwiched a walk to Zavala and with the team down to its final out, up stepped Riker-Sloan. The freshman catcher just missed tying the game as she sent a drive that went foul by a few inches down the left field line. On the ensuing pitch, Compton pitcher Brooke Loard got Riker-Sloan to pop up to second base to end PCC’s season. “You really can’t ask for more than being given an opportunity to have a big hitter like Holly up and runners on base,” Tantlinger said. “It just wasn’t meant to be. We had an outside chance at making the playoffs had we won. Still, we finished in a tie for fourth place and that’s another improvement going forward for the program.” The Lancers set a team record for home runs in a season with 27—20 by the duo of Zavala and Riker-Sloan—who beat the previous best PCC single-season mark by three homers each. PCC batted .336 as a team in 38 games and also recorded 17 triples on the season. Zavala was the team’s batting leader with a .409 average and she led the team in runs scored (41) and hits (52). Riker-Sloan, who batted .400 overall, led the squad in RBI with 42 while Zavala finished the season with 37.
Lancers baseball ends losing streak at home Daniel Axume Staff Writer
The PCC baseball team came into Tuesday’s series opener against Mt. SAC on yet another losing streak. Losers of their last five in a row and nine of their last 10, the Lancers hadn’t scored a run in their last couple of games. Fortunately, that all changed on Tuesday, as PCC did just enough to win the ballgame 2-0. Back in the friendly confines of Jackie Robinson Field, the Lancers looked determined to end their slump. With freshman pitcher Eddie Gutierrez on the mound, the ball-club came out strong from the gates. Infielder and clean-up hitter Anthony Gonzalez put the Lancers on the board in the first inning on an infield single, scoring Joe Quire from third base. That was enough for the Lancers as they rode behind Gutierrez’s back, helping his team with an incredible performance. Gutierrez threw for seven innings, gave up no runs on five hits and a strikeout. He even
escaped a 2-out, bases-loaded jam, getting the Mounties to groundout for the final out in the inning, leaving all runners on base. “I just wanted to come out and throw as best as I could, try and get a win,” Gutierrez said. “We have been struggling the whole year and when we play together we tend to win.” Not only was Gutierrez satisfied with his performance, but he credited his defense as well. “Everyone was on point today,” he said. “We didn’t have any errors today. I guess my tempo was helping them out.” As PCC still held a 1-0 lead into the eighth inning, they were able to put up another run in the bottom half of the frame. Gonzalez yet again came up in the clutch, driving in Quire, who tripled to lead off the inning. Gonzalez ripped one into left field, making it a 2-0 lead. Then freshman pitcher Nick Esparza took over the game for the last two innings for the Lancers. He was able to shut the door in the eighth and ninth innings, ending the ball game.
Daniel Valencia/Courier Lancers freshman Cameron Tuck beats the throw at first during Tuesday’s 2-0 victory at Jackie Robinson Field.
“I don’t try and think at all. Just try to put a good swing on the ball and try to hit it,” said Anthony Gonzalez, who drove in both runs for the Lancers. “As the four-spot, it’s my job to try and get RBIs and that’s what I
try to do as much as I can.” Head coach Pat McGee was pleased with his club’s performance as well. “We did a good job,” McGee said. “Starting with the tempo of our starting pitcher, he
competed. We did just enough offensively and we played good defense. Gonzalez did a good job and he was put in that opportunity by the guys getting on base.” Interestingly, Mt. SAC head coach Kevin Smith, who was also coaching at third base during the game, was ejected from the game in the fourth inning along with a player from the Mounties. After a close call at first base, the runner was ruled out as he and PCC first baseman Joe Quire collided on a bad throw. After the umpires met, they decided to let the call stand. That angered someone in the Mountie dugout, who was quickly ejected by the home plate umpire. After Smith went up to argue the ejection with the umpire, he was also tossed. The Lancers are now 6-13 in conference play and will continue their series with Mt. SAC on Thursday as they travel to Walnut before closing out the series and the season back at home on Friday.