Aztecs Baseball claims Region I Runner-Up trophy as rally falls short at South Mountain

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(Phoenix, AZ)  The Pima Community College baseball team (47-13) played Game Two of the Region I, Division II Finals on Friday at South Mountain Community College (45-16).

The No. 2 seeded Aztecs fell to the No. 1 Cougars 11-6 as Pima claimed the Region I, Division II Runner-Up trophy. The Aztecs dropped Game One 9-1 in seven innings on Thursday.

L – Valenzuela (4-2). HR: Glueck.

The Cougars took a 5-0 lead with three runs in the 1^st inning and two runs in the 3^rd. The Aztecs got on the board in the 4^th inning when sophomore Nolan Ganter (Pinnacle HS) was hit by a pitch and freshman Jackson Glueck followed with a two-run shot to right field that cleared the fence.

The Aztecs took advantage of two South Mountain errors in the 5^th inning. Freshman Ramon Martinez and Ganter reached on errors and sophomore Caden Richards drew a walk as the bases were loaded with one out. Glueck came through with an RBI single to right field, bringing in Martinez and Richards. Sophomore Collin Senior (Horizon HS) tied the game with a sacrifice-fly RBI to right field, scoring Ganter as the Aztecs tied it 5-5.

The Cougars retook the lead in the bottom of the 5^th inning with two runs to make it 7-5.

Richards opened the 7^th inning with a single but was called out at second base after Ganter’s fielder’s choice. With two outs, Ganter scored after Senior reached on an error. The Aztecs left two runners on base in each the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th innings. They left a total of 11 on base for the game.

Glueck finished the game 2 for 5 with four RBIs and a run while Senior was 1 for 3 with an RBI. Richards went 1 for 3 with a run. Ganter scored three runs and freshman Sean Barta finished 1 for 3 with two walks.

Freshman Sal Valenzuela (Nogales HS) took the loss in a relief appearance as he pitched two innings, giving up two runs (two earned) on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks on 60 pitches.

The Aztecs await the NJCAA Division II World Series selection show to see if they receive an at-large bid.

Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez