(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College baseball team (44-15) opened the Region I, Division I Finals on Thursday at the West Campus Aztec Field against South Mountain Community College (35-24).
L – Alvarez (8-1). HR: Arias.
The No. 2 seeded Aztecs fell to the No. 4 Cougars 3-1 as the first seven innings were a classic pitcher’s duel. The Cougars struck first in the 8th inning and the Aztecs countered in the bottom half of the inning, but the rally was halted.
Down 2-0 with one out in the 8th inning, sophomore Nick Arias (Tucson Magnet HS) battled back to force a full count and drove a ball deep to center field for the home run to put Pima on the board. Freshman Collin Senior (Horizon HS) and sophomore David Shackelford drew walks, but sophomore Ruben Castro (Tucson Magnet HS) struck out to end the threat.
Nick Arias/Photo by Gilbert Alcaraz
The Cougars made it a two-run differential again in the top of the 9th when they scored a run off an error.
Sophomore Brant Kragel reached on an error with one out as sophomore Caleb Herd (Cienega HS) hit into a double play to end the game.
South Mountain’s Chris Mata and Dominic Chacon had RBI singles in the 8th inning to put them ahead.
The Aztecs finished the game with three hits and left eight runners on base. Arias went 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Senior went 1 for 3. The Aztecs had six walks in the game. Sophomore David Shackelford drew two walks while Senior, Herd, and sophomores Elijah Reeves (Marana HS) and Jontae Hennesy (Horizon HS) each drew one walk.
Sophomore Diego Alvarez (Sahuarita HS) pitched a solid game but suffered his first loss of the season (8-1) as he went seven and one-third innings, giving up two runs (two earned) on five hits with 12 strikeouts and two walks on 99 pitches. Sophomore Garrett Hicks (Verrado HS) pitched the final one and two-third innings, giving up one run (none earned) on three hits with one strikeout.
Nikolas Miller got the win for the Cougars after pitching six innings, giving up two hits with two strikeouts and four walks. Alex Urias-Calvillo got the save as he went one and two-third innings, with three strikeouts and one walk.
The Aztecs and the Cougars are back at it on Friday for Game 2 of the Region I, Division I Finals at the West Campus Aztec Field. First pitch is at 2:00 p.m. If the Aztecs win, they’ll force Game 3 on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. If the Cougars win, they claim the region crown and will host the West District Tournament.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
Click on Logo
