Tucson, AZ –The Pima Community College baseball team’s season came to an end on Friday in the second day of the NJCAA West District Tournament.
The Aztecs fell to Southeast Community College (Neb.) 8-5 in an elimination game. The Aztecs took the lead, but the Bobcats scored six unanswered runs and held the Aztecs to one hit from the 5th to 9th innings.
L – White (2-3). 2B: Cummings. 3B: Shackelford. HR: Reeves. SB: Avila.
The Aztecs scored two runs in the 1st inning. Sophomore Brant Kragel hit an RBI single to drive in sophomore Elijah Reeves (Marana HS), who drew a lead-off walk. Sophomore David Shackelford followed with an RBI triple to bring around Kragel as Pima took an early 2-0 advantage.
Freshman Chase Cummings led off the 2nd inning with a double and later scored on an error to put Pima up 3-0.
The Bobcats cut into Pima’s lead with two runs in the 4th, but the Aztecs got the runs back in the bottom-half of the inning. Sophomore Antonio Avila hit a one-out single, stole second base and advanced to third on an error. That set up sophomore Caleb Herd (Cienega HS), who hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to score Avila. Reeves followed with a solo home run on the first pitch he saw as he sent it deep to left field. The Aztecs went up 5-2.
The Bobcats scored two runs in each the 5th, 6th and 9th innings. Pima was held to one hit between the 5th and 9th innings. They drew three walks but stranded eight runners on base.
Kragel the game 2 for 3 with an RBI, a run and two walks. He was 5 for 7 with two RBIs, two runs and three walks for the tournament. Reeves went 1 for 4 with an RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Shackelford was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Cummings closed it out going 2 for 3 with a run and Avila finished 1 for 4 with a run.
Sophomore Tommy White took the loss in relief as he pitched two innings, giving up one run (one earned) on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks. Sophomore J.T. Drake started the game and pitched five innings, giving up five runs (five earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and four walks.
The Aztecs dropped their final three games of the season and finished 45-18 overall. It was their second straight 40+ win season. Before the 2023 season, their last 40-win season was in 1991. They also finished 26-12 in the ACCAC conference for the second straight year. It was also Pima’s second straight trip to the NJCAA West District Tournament.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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