Baseball still shows heart despite losing record

By James Sargent
Photo by James Kelley

The Pima Community College team has been playing .500 baseball in its last eight games, and has now been officially eliminated from the post-season.

The Aztecs are currently 18-30-1, (11-21 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) on the season and will finish with a sub .500 record with only six games remaining.

“We are going to focus and continue to play hard,” head coach Edgar Soto said of his team. “We aren’t going to change what we do.  No matter what, we are going to not give up and we are going to do everything we can to win a baseball game.”

On April 20, Pima split its games against Division II No. 10 Mesa Community College, winning 13-3 and losing 16-6.

Sophomore Richie Sandoval endured the loss in Game 1, giving up six runs on six hits through three innings of work.

The southpaw struggled with his control as he also walked five Thunderbird hitters.

Sophomore shortstop Pepito Moreno was the Aztecs’ top hitter in Game 1, as he went 2-3 with a double and one RBI.

Freshman Torry Mowatt improved to 2-2 on the season with his Game 2 start and win.

Mowatt threw five innings, giving up six runs, four earned, on five hits.

Freshman Ryan Retz got the job done on the mound and at the plate.

Ryan Retz

Retz pitched the final 1-2/3 innings to earn the save and he went 2-5 with a grand slam in the seventh inning.

Pima split a pair of ACCAC games with South Mountain Community College on April 17, losing 6-2 and winning 10-3.

Sophomore Tim Reed picked up the loss in Game 1, giving up six runs, four earned, on eight hits.

Freshman Matt Pavelich earned the win in Game 2, pitching six strong innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on seven hits.

Sandoval and Mowatt relieved Pavelich to throw the final three innings of shutout baseball.

Lead-off hitter Moreno led the Aztec offense, as he went 3-6, scored two runs and drove in four.  Retz, current ACCAC Player of the Week, went 2-5 in Game 2 while driving in three RBIs.

With the season winding down and the playoffs not a possibility, many of the sophomores are playing for scholarships and the freshmen are competing for ample playing time next year.

“Ryan Retz is having an outstanding year,” Soto said about his returning freshmen players. “We are excited about him for next year.  Also, outfielder Leo Durazo has had a pretty good year and he’s one of the top hitters in the conference.  As for pitchers, Torry Mowatt is having a decent year and will be important next year.”