Tucson, AZ –The Pima Community College baseball team (43-15) is heading to the NJCAA Region I, Division I Finals.
The No. 3 seeded Aztecs defeated No. 2 South Mountain Community College 5-4 to win the Region I Semifinal series over the Cougars 2-0. This is Pima’s fourth playoff appearance since 2012.
The Aztecs got on the scoreboard in the 1st inning when sophomore Rocco Gump (Seton Catholic HS) was hit by a pitch with bases loaded, which brought in sophomore Gage Mestas.
In the 4th inning with the score tied at 1-1, sophomore Braedon Mondeau (Cienega HS) started it off with a walk. He stole second base and moved to third on sophomore Luis Garcia’s (Salpointe Catholic HS) groundout. Mestas hit a ball that didn’t clear the infield and slid into first to reach base. Mondeau scored on the play as Pima retook the lead.
The Aztecs added insurance in the 5th inning. Freshman David Shackelford drew a walk with two outs. Gump hit a shot to right field and legged it out into a triple as Shackelford scored from first base. Mondeau followed with an RBI single to drive in Gump as the Aztecs led 4-1.
The Cougars cut into Pima’s lead with a run in the each the 5th and 6th innings. The Aztecs got a run back as Gump hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to score Cazares and make it 5-3.
Gump finished the game 1 for 3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Mestas went 3 for 5 with an RBI and a run. Cazares was 2 for 4 with a run and Mondeau closed it out going 1 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Photo – Pima Aztec Athletics
“That (RBI triple) was a big hit, it gave us a lead and it gave us a chance to go out there and continue to win,” Gump said. “I felt great at the plate, I felt like I was seeing the ball well and I hit the ball hard at some people. I came up with runners in scoring position. I just basically had to put the ball in play, and I did my job.”
The Cougars got a lead-off home run by Connor Schneider in the 8th inning to cut Pima’s lead to one. The Aztecs made a pitching change and brought in freshman J.T. Drake. He got three of the four batters he faced as the Cougars left the tying run stranded. Drake set the Cougars down in order to end the game.
“I felt like we had some key hits at some key times and we made some great defensive plays, and we have J.T. Drake on the team,” Pima baseball coach Ken Jacome said. “When you have him, he’s lights out at the end of the game and that’s what happens when we’re up and he comes in the game.”
Sophomore Anthony Imhoff (Queen Creek HS) picked up the win as he pitched five and two-third innings, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits with eight strikeouts and six walks. Drake picked up the save as he threw two innings, giving up one hit with two strikeouts.
“I just needed my curve ball to be on and it was. It worked out effectively. It gave my fielders a lot of chances and they came through for me,” Drake said. “I also wanted to throw fastballs high to make them chase it. Anthony (Imhoff) did great. He gave us a good standing point from where we were in the game.”
The Aztecs will play at No. 1 seed Central Arizona College or will host No. 4 Arizona Western College. Their deciding game three will be on Saturday.
“The guys played hard and they never let up. I’m super excited for this group and they earned what they got,” Jacome said. “We’ve told them all year, ‘You’re a great team, just play the right way and good things will happen.’”
PCC 1 0 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 5 10 1
SMCC 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 4 7 1
W – Imhoff (1-0). S – Drake (2). 2B: Cazares, Stucky. 3B:Gump. SB: Mondeau.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
