(Phoenix, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (2-2) played a non-conference doubleheader at Paradise Valley Community College (2-2) on Saturday in Phoenix.
The Aztecs dropped both games to the Pumas as the defense committed six errors on the day. The Aztecs showed some power on offense by hitting four home runs. Sophomore Jontae Hennesy (Horizon HS) went 2 for 6 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Game 1: Paradise Valley Pumas 7, Pima Aztecs 6 (9 innings)
The Aztecs took the lead in the 8th inning after freshman Leon Cereceres hit an RBI single bringing in sophomore Ruben Castro (Tucson Magnet HS) but the Pumas tied it in the bottom-half of the inning. The Aztecs left a runner on base in the top of the 9th and the Pumas won it on a fielder’s choice that scored the game-winner.
The Aztecs took the lead in the 4th inning when Hennesy tied the game with an RBI single that scored freshman David Shackelford. Sophomore Brant Kragel followed with a two-run homer to left field to make it 3-1.
Trailing 4-3, the Aztecs rallied again in the 5th inning. Sophomore Elijah Reeves (Marana HS) drove an RBI triple to left field to plate sophomore Caleb Herd (Cienega HS) to tie it. Sophomore Antonio Avila brought in Reeves with his RBI single to make it 5-4.
The Pumas tied it again at 5-5 with a run in the 6th inning.
Kragel was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a run scored while Reeves went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run. Hennesy finished 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run.
Sophomore Sean Farney (Millenium HS) took the loss in relief as he pitched two innings, giving up two runs (two earned) on one hit with four strikeouts and two walks.
L – Farney (0-1). 2B: Kragel. 3B: Reeves. HR: Kragel. SB: Madsen, Cazares.
Game 2: Paradise Valley Pumas 9, Pima Aztecs 4 (7 innings)
The Aztecs were forced to play catchup as the Pumas’ offense scored three runs in the 1st inning and four runs in the 2ndinning.
The Aztecs tried countering with the long ball as sophomore Austin Madsen (Canyon del Oro HS) drove the first pitch he saw deep to center field to put the Aztecs on the scoreboard in the 2ndinning.
Sophomore Nick Arias (Tucson Magnet HS) hit a lead-off home run to left field in the 3rd inning as Pima trailed 7-2. Later in the inning, freshman Andrew Hall brought in Hennesy after he hit a groundout.
Sophomore Dom Felix (Canyon del Oro HS) hit the third solo home run of the game for the Aztecs as he drove a 1-1 count out to left field in the 7th inning to cap off Pima’s scoring.
Felix finished 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored while Arias and Madsen each went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a run. Hennesy was 1 for 3 with a run.
Sophomore Tommy White (Cibola HS) started the game and took the loss after pitching one and two-third innings, giving up seven runs (three earned) on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
L – White (0-1). 2B: Felix, Shackelford, Hennesy. HR: Madsen, Felix, Arias.
The Aztecs will play in the Zinger Bats JUCO Invitational from Feb. 2-4 with all games being held at Sloan Park in Mesa, AZ. The Aztecs will play a doubleheader on Friday when they face off against Trinidad State College at 10:00 a.m. and the College of Southern Nevada at 2:00 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
Click on Logo
