J.T. Drake throws shutout with 11 strikeouts as Baseball advances to Region I Finals

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(Tucson, AZ)  The Pima Community College baseball team (44-14) is heading back to the Region I, Division I Championship round for a second consecutive season.

The No. 2 seeded Aztecs defeated No. 3 Arizona Western College 4-0 on Friday in Game 2 of the Region I, Division I Semifinals to earn the sweep.

W – Drake (9-3). 2B: Herd, Castro. SB: Avila, Senior, Castro

Sophomore RHP J.T. Drake was unstoppable as he pitched a complete-game, giving up three hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks. He retired 11 straight between the 1^st and 4^thinnings and produced five innings where he got the Matadors out in order.

“I felt great, the confidence my team gives me to play makes these performances possible,” Drake said. “I wanted to make sure to mix in my off-speeds really well, and keeping them off-balance the whole game, was very effective.”

The Aztecs got on the board in the 4^th inning when sophomore Ruben Castro (Tucson Magnet HS) hit an RBI double to score sophomore David Shackelford, who reached base on a fielder’s choice.

Sophomore Jontae Hennesy (Horizon HS) hit a lead-off single in the 6^th inning and advanced on the basepaths until he scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.

Sophomore Caleb Herd (Cienega HS) hit an RBI double with one out in the 8^th inning to score sophomore Antonio Avila. Herd later scored on an error.

Shackelford finished the game 2 for 4 with a run scored while Herd went 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored. Castro was 1 for 3 with an RBI and Avila and Henessy each were 1 for 3 with a run scored. Sophomore Elijah Reeves (Marana HS) was 1 for 4 with an RBI.

The Aztecs will play the winner of the No. 1 seed Central Arizona College/No. 4 seed South Mountain Community College Region I, Division I Semifinals. The series is tied at 1-1 and the deciding Game 3 is tomorrow at Central Arizona College at 12:00 p.m.

If the Vaqueros win, the Aztecs will play at Central Arizona College next week. If the Cougars win, the Aztecs will host the best-of-3 series at the West Campus Aztec Field.

Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez