Add two more clutch moments for the dynamic hitting duo of centerfielder Max Blessinger and shortstop Raider Tello and throw in yet another brilliant pitching performance from reliever Benny Olguin. The three have stood out all season for the state #12-ranked Lancers and never more have their talents been relied on then on Thursday at Long Beach City College.
Trailing 5-2 in the top of the ninth, Blessinger rocketed a game-tying, 3-run homer over the left field fence and Tello followed with a solo shot also to LF as the Lancers (13-6 record) rallied for six runs in a thrilling, 8-5 victory. Olguin, who has turned into the best long reliever in the state, hurled seven innings of 5-hit ball (one run) to improve to 4-0. The sophomore letterman has struck out 33 batters in 33 innings and lowered his ERA to 2.18.
Tello was 0-for-4 before his fourth dinger of the season extended his season-long hitting streak to 18 games. The talented redshirt freshman is tied for the state lead in RBI with 30 and his .500 batting average is tops in the SoCal region and No. 2 in the state. He also has homered now in each of the last three games, a remarkable feat in community college baseball. So far this week in three games, he is 10-for-16 with five extra-base hits (two doubles), seven runs scored and 11 RBI. The Arcadia High product is tied for first in the state in hits (41) and his .793 slugging percentage is #6 overall.
Blessinger is also having a tremendous season, batting .359 with three homers, 23 RBI and his 29 runs scored is second in the state.
Leftfielder Aryonis Harrison, a returner from the 2020 squad, batted 3-for-4 with a triple and a stolen base and first baseman Jake Trabbie was 2-for-4 with a double.
On Tuesday, the Lancers again had a heroic turn from Blessinger, but it wasn't enough in an 11-9 loss in 10 innings v. Long Beach at Brookside Park's Jackie Robinson Field. The Lancers led 6-2 after seven innings before the Vikings rallied with five runs in the eighth and two in the top of the ninth for a 9-6 lead. In the bottom of the ninth and PCC down to its final out, the Maranatha High grad and transfer sophomore delivered a game-tying, 2-RBI single to left. That pushed the game into extra innings, but Raul Garcia hit 2-run single up the middle that lifted LBCC to the victory.
Tello went 4-for-5, launching a home run over the center-field fence in the first inning, hitting a double, and driving in three RBI. Trabbie batted 3-for-6 (7-for-14 this week), catcher Matthew Delgado 2-for-4, Blessinger 2-for-5, and rightfielder Kenny Kim 2-for-6. Pinch hitter Collin Johnson ripped an RBI double in the ninth-inning rally prior to Blessinger's big hit. Jakob Guardado pitched well in his no-decision start as he completed six innings, allowed seven hits, two runs and struck out four.
Currently tied for second in the South Coast Conference race at 5-3, the Lancers host Long Beach on Saturday, Mar. 12 in a 12 p.m. first pitch.