(Beatrice, NE) The Pima Community College baseball team’s 2023 season came to an end on Fridayat the NJCAA West District Tournament as it dropped two games at Christensen Field in Beatrice, Nebraska.
The Aztecs went 46-18 overall this season, securing their first 40+ win season since 1991 (41-17) and the most wins in Pima history since 1985 when they finished 48-11.
(Elimination Game) – Southeast CC Storm 8, Pima CC Aztecs 6
The Aztecs struggled to contain Southeast’s offense in the first three innings but stayed within striking distance. The Pima bullpen perplexed the Storm for the final five innings but the Aztecs could not take advantage.
The Storm scored three runs in the first inning but the Aztecs tied the game in the 2nd. Freshman David Shackelford led off with a double and with one out, sophomore Braedon Mondeau (Cienega HS) drove him in with an RBI double. Freshman Antonio Avila followed with an RBI single to score Mondeau and sophomore Gage Mestas tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI single to bring in Avila.
The Storm retook the lead with another three runs in the 2nd inning. The Aztecs cut into the lead when sophomore Rocco Gump hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to plate sophomore Hunter Faildo in the 3rd.
Southeast scored another two runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning but that was it for their run production as they would finish with just two hits for the rest of the game. Sophomore Matt Romero threw four innings in relief and held the Storm in check, giving up two hits with seven strikeouts and two walks. Freshman J.T. Drake pitched the final one and one-third innings with three strikeouts.
Down 8-4 in the 4th inning, Avila scored on a passed ball but left a runner on base. The Aztecs loaded the bases with one out in the 6th inning. Faildo struck out for the second out and freshman Benji Cazares (Tucson Magnet HS) drew a walk to score sophomore Luis Garcia (Salpointe Catholic HS). Shackelford grounded into a fielder’s choice to end the inning. The Aztecs left 10 runners stranded for the game.
Mestas finished 2 for 5 with an RBI. Mondeau was 1 for 5 with an RBI and a run scored while Avila went 1 for 3 with an RBI, two runs scored and two walks. Gump finished 1 for 4 with an RBI and Shackelford and Faildo each scored a run. Sophomore Andrew Stucky (Canyon del Oro HS) drew three walks.
Sophomore Jaeden Swanberg (Salpointe Catholic HS) took the loss as he pitched two and two-third innings, giving up eight runs (eight earned) on eight hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
PCC 0 3 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 6 8 0
SCC 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 x 8 10 2
L – Swanberg. 2B: Shackelford, Mondeau. SB: Avila 3, Mestas 2
Game 1: Salt Lake CC Bruins 7, Pima CC Aztecs 5
In the first game of the day, the Aztecs took an early lead but the Bruins scored five unanswered to take their own lead. The Aztecs were able to tie it, but Salt Lake scored the final two runs of the game.
The Aztecs got the offense rolling in the 1st inning as Mestas opened the game with a double. Stucky picked up where he left off after Thursday’s walkoff, as he hit a two-run home run to center field. Faildo followed suit with a solo home run of his own to cap off the inning as Pima took a 3-0 lead.
The Bruins scored three runs in the 2nd inning and two in the 3rd to take the lead.
The Aztecs cut into the deficit in the 4th inning. Shackelford led off with a walk and moved on the base paths on a passed ball and error. Mondeau brought him in after he grounded out to shortstop to make it 5-4.
Pima tied the game at 5-5 in the 5th inning when Shackelford hit an RBI double to score Stucky, who had hit a one-out single. The Bruins regained the advantage with one in the bottom of the 5thand one in the 7th inning.
The Aztecs loaded the bases with two outs in the 7th inning but Gump grounded into a fielder’s choice play to second to end the threat. The Aztecs left eight runners on base for the game.
Stucky finished the game 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Faildo was 1 for 5 with an RBI and a run while Shackelford went 1 for 3 with an RBI, a run and two walks. Mestas went 1 for 5 with a run scored.
Sophomore Anthony Imhoff took the loss as he pitched six innings, giving up seven runs (seven earned) on 11 hits with six strikeouts and four walks on 118 pitches.
PCC 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 5 11 1
SLCC 0 3 2 0 1 0 1 0 x 7 12 2
L – Imhoff. 2B: Shackelford, Adge, Mestas. HR: Stucky, Faildo.
“We just didn’t play well. We had opportunities but just didn’t play our best baseball,” Pima baseball coach Ken Jacome said. “When that happens, we just came out on the losing end.
“I told the guys after the game, it’s disappointing to not take that last step but I’m super proud of what they were able to accomplish this year. We’ll be back. I feel like this is a steppingstone for us and we’ll get that last step eventually. I’m just really proud of what these guys have done over the course of the year. It’s a great group of players.”
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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