All Entries in the "Baseball" Category
Alumnus Heredia went pro
By MYLO ERICKSON
Nogales native Gilbert “Gil” Heredia, who spent 10 years on Major League Baseball teams, played for Pima Community College in the early ‘80s.
During his tenure as an Aztec, the right-handed pitcher led Pima in innings pitched (247) and strikeouts (151). His 21 wins were the second-highest for the team.
The 1985 campaign was stellar for Heredia. He pitched 152.1 innings, recording 15 wins. He also struck out 98 batters and posted an earned run average of 2.66.
The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Heredia in the first round of the 1984 draft, but he did not sign a contract. In 1985, the Baltimore Orioles drafted him in the sixth round but once again he opted to remain an Aztec.
Heredia played two seasons at the University of Arizona starting in 1986, and was part of the Wildcats’ NCAA championship team that year.
Heredia finally signed a professional contract in June 1987, when the San Francisco Giants drafted him in the ninth round, 230th overall.
While pitching for the Triple-A Phoenix Firebirds in 1991, he led the Pacific Coast League with a 2.82 ERA.
From there, he moved to MLB to play with the Giants.
He was traded three times during his pro career, first moving in 1992 to the Montreal Expos. He was shipped to the Texas Rangers in 1996 and ended up with the Oakland Athletics in 1998.
Heredia won a career-high 15 games in 2000, while throwing 198.2 innings. He struck out 101 batters and had a 4.12 ERA.
He pitched his last game on Sept. 19, 2001.
After leaving the pros, Heredia returned to Tucson to spend time with his wife and three children and worked for Nova Home Loans.
Heredia is now a pitching coach for the Missoula Osprey in Montana. The Pioneer Baseball League team serves as the rookie ball team for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
His Osprey pitching staff went 41-35 last season, with an ERA of 5.05. Heredia has one year left on his contract with the club.
Will practice make perfect?
By LYNDAJOE ECHERIVEL
Pima Community College’s baseball team had a split on the road in Coolidge on Feb. 18 against Central Arizona College.
The Aztecs won the first game 5-4 as Alexis Batista drove in Zach Sweety on a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning to give Pima its winning run.
Batista finished 2-3 for the game. Freshman Santiago Romero relieved sophomore starting pitcher Julio Felix and pitched two scoreless innings with three strikeouts to get his first college win.
In the second game, the Aztecs fell 11-0 to the Vaqueros. Freshman Alfonso Pacheco got his first college hit with a pinch-hit single. Garrett Taggart came in for relief and pitched two scoreless innings. Pima gave up seven runs in the second inning. Juan Vega took the loss for the Aztecs.
The Aztecs finished 2-2 on their Las Vegas road trip as they dropped the fourth game to Western Nevada on Feb. 12, 4-2.
Freshman pitcher Will Holbrook took the loss for Pima. Sophomore Ryan Gerber helped the Aztec offense out, going 2-4 with an RBI.
PCC faced WNC in a doubleheader Feb. 11, winning both games by at least two runs.
In the first game, Felix threw a complete game shutout, only allowing one walk and throwing five strikeouts in the 3-0 victory.
It was Felix’s first win of the season.
Leadoff hitter Gerber helped out the offense, going 2-4 with one double and one RBI. Continuing their winning momentum, the Aztecs beat the Wildcats 6-4.
Sweety and Bryant Munoz each hit solo home runs in the second inning giving the Aztecs a much-needed boost on offense. Holbrook recorded his third save of the season.
In the first game of their road trip to Las Vegas, the Aztecs lost 9-1 to WNC on Feb. 10. Jake Cole was the pitcher for the game.
The Aztecs practice their defensive strategies heading into their first home game of the season. Photo by LEFTRICK HERD
Players get ball rolling
Photo by Leftrick Herd
By LYNDAJOE ECHERIVEL
Pima Community College’s baseball team got their bats swings in a weekend-long tournament in Las Vegas, Feb. 2-3.
To close out the second day of the tournament, the Aztecs played back-to-back games against Utah State University-College of Eastern Utah and College of Southern Nevada.
In the Sunday game against USU-Eastern, Pima beat the Golden Eagles 9-5. The winning pitcher was freshman Caleb Kirkman.
Pima then faced the CSN Coyotes, winning it 6-5 in 13 innings. The winning pitcher was Kyle Kilgore.
The Aztecs faced USU-Eastern the first day of the tournament, beating the Eagles 12-0. The winning pitcher was sophomore southpaw Garrett Taggart, with the save going to sophomore Will Holbrook. That same afternoon PCC lost to Southern Idaho College 5-3. The losing pitcher was sophomore Juan Vega.
Pima’s three key hitters this season are KC Mejia, who has a .389 batting average and an on base percentage of .522 in 18 at bats. Alexis Batista is hitting at a .375 clip with an OBP of .500 in sixteen at bats and Dylan Schikel numbers are .364 and .462, in respectively.
The previous weekend, Pima battled hard in a three-game set against Paradise Valley Community College, taking the series 2-1.
In the first game, PCC beat PVCC 3-2. The winning pitcher was sophomore Jose Gomez and the save went to Holbrook.
The second game followed in a similar pattern, with the Aztecs taking the game 3-2. Vega earned the win, and the save went to sophomore Julio Feliz.
The third game in the two-day long series went to the Pumas, 6-5. Kilgore took the loss.
Pima will make a second trip back to the City of Lights from Feb. 10-13 to face Western Nevada College.
MLB throws some curves
By MYLO ERICKSON
Major League baseball will have a couple of changes coming in the next couple of years. Commissioner Bud Selig has decided to add two more teams to the playoff races.
This change could happen as soon as the 2012 season.
There will be two wild card teams that make it to the postseason in each league, and they will have a one-game playoff to determine who gets to move on.
It seems a bit odd to add a one-game playoff when all the other playoff series are either best of five, or a best of seven.
Most baseball fans think this format will take away from the end-of-the-year drama, making the end seem artificial by allowing a team that has earned a spot to get eliminated.
Selig seems to think that it will help some of baseball’s popularity. The football playoffs are all single eliminations, as is March Madness for college hoops. Both are some of the most-watched events.
I feel it cheapens the integrity of the game, as you find out the better team over a period of time and not just the best team for a day.
The worst might beat the best team on a given day. That may be the appeal and purpose for adding the extra teams — to maybe give a nobody a chance.
What if the Boston Red Sox had beat the Tampa Bay Rays in a one-game playoff last season? That would have rendered the Rays’ amazing comeback pointless.
Another scenario: What if the Atlanta Braves had eliminated the St. Louis Cardinals in a one-game playoff last year? The Cardinals would not be World Champions.
The MLB has also asked the new owners of the Houston Astros to move the team to the American League. This move is being held over until the 2013 season.
I agree with this one, as it evens out all the divisions at five teams apiece.
It will change how inter-league play is done, as there will be an odd number of teams in each league and will cause a need for regular play among the two leagues.
This brings joy to my heart since I live in a state with a National League team (Diamondbacks), but my favorite team is in the American League (Minnesota Twins).
Down the road, the heads of baseball may need to make a decision about what to do with the designated hitter rule.
In the end, the powers-that-be are trying to do what they think is best for the sport and are trying to make it more exciting for the fans.
Baseball team seeks pitching success for 2012
By AMY ZAMBRANO
After being swept last year in the semi-finals by Central Arizona College, the Pima Community College baseball team is preparing to return strong for spring ball in 2012.
The team ended last season with a 29-27 record.
Assistant coach Ernesto Durazo called last year’s season a learning experience for both players and a new coaching staff.
“Even for the returners last year, we didn’t know much about them as players,” Durazo said.
The team will prepare during the winter break to initiate the 2012 season on a positive note.
Durazo’s goal is for the athletes to be mentally prepared for any situation.
“This year we want the players to improve their baseball IQ and just learn more about baseball,” he said. “It’s very important for the team to work hard. We want to embed good attitude and hard work in order to be successful.”
Four pitchers seem likely to be key players: freshmen Julio Felix, Juan Vega and Garrett Taggart, and a North Carolina State University transfer, Jake Cole.
“We are definitely stronger this year,” Durazo said. “I know we will have a good season.”
For now, the team is working on compiling good grades and practicing in the morning three times a week.
The Aztecs will play their first game of the 2012 season on Jan. 27.
On Deck
Jan. 27- 28: @ Paradise Valley CC
Feb. 2- 3: Tournament in Las Vegas, NV
Ex-Aztec headlines baseball fiesta
By AMY ZAMBRANO
Former Pima Community College baseball player Erubiel Durazo leads a list of Mexican stars coming to Tucson for a tournament.
Kino Stadium will host Vamos, a Tucson Mexican Baseball Fiesta Oct. 7-9.
Durazo, from Hermosillo, Sonora, went to Amphitheater High School and is one of the most noted Mexican Baseball League players.
He played in the Majors for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Oakland Athletics.
Other Naranjeros de Hermosillo Players include former Diamondback Edgar Gonzalez as well as Humberto Cota who spent seven seasons as a catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The baseball invitational will host the teams Naranjeros de Hermosillo, Yaquis de Obregon, Aguilas de Mexicali and a combination of Major League prospects.
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased in person at Kino Stadium or by phone at (520) 434-1367.
Reserved seats will be $12, general admission will be $8 for adults, $7 for children 6-16, seniors age 55 and older and military personnel.
Groups of 20 or more will be $10 for reserved seats and $6 for general admission
Fans can get a three-day pass for $30 in the reserved section and will sit in the same seat for all three days.
Former Aztec Erubiel Durazo will play in the baseball fiesta Oct. 7-9. Photo courtesy of Tucson Padres.
For more information, go here
ONLINE EXTRA: Softball, baseball begin fall ball
Story and photo by JOEL GANTT
The Pima Community College softball team has begun preparations for the 2012 season with the start of their fall schedule and will return two first team All-Americans.
Pima currently has nine sophomores including catcher Alejandra Ortiz, trnasfer from Yavapai College, and 13 freshmen.
Pitcher Mari Contreras led the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference last season with 262 strikeouts. Contreras led the team with a 28-2 record that was second best in the conference and her earned run average of 1.63 was the third lowest in the ACCAC.
Mari Contreras
Along with the outstanding pitching of Contreras, Pima also returns an All-American hitter in Jessica Schneider. Schneider’s batting average of .486 was 7th best in the ACCAC and she was tied for 1st in the conference with 27 doubles.
Last season Pima went 39-9 and placed second in the conference behind last year’s National Champions Yavapai College.
Pima has started their fall scrimmages where they will compete against club teams, junior colleges and division one schools including the University of Texas El Paso, University of New Mexico and the University of Arizona.
Pima will host scrimmage doubleheaders against UTEP on Sept. 24 and Sept. 25 at 10 a.m. Former Aztec star Charissa Ballesteros plays for the Miners.
Then on Oct. 9, the Aztecs will travel to the UA to face the Wildcats at 2 p.m. and that weekend, Oct. 14-16, they will compete in the UA Fall Classic against a field that includes the universities of Arizona and New Mexico.
Former Pima star Kaity Ingram plays for the Lobos.
The baseball team also started fall ball, they will play from September to late October, mostly against other ACCAC teams and a Chicago White Sox scout teams.
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Summer recap: Aztec sports ranked no. 22 in the nation
By MYLO ERICKSON
Daniels photo by ED ADAMS
Contreras photo by JAMES KELLEY
Pima Community College stayed in the top 25 of the national ranking of athletic departments, but slipped a bit.
In the 2010-11 rankings, PCC dropped six spots, to No. 22 from its all-time best No. 16 in 2009-10. The National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators ranked the two year schools that give scholarships by their performances at Nationals last year.
Again the Aztec women led the way, earning a total of 55.5 points, after 41 last year and the men earned 15, down from 28.5.
Arizona Community College Athletic Conference rivals Central Arizona College and Mesa Community College both finished in the top 20. Central finished eighth with a total of 101.5 and Mesa was No. 16 with a total of 73 points.
Hall of Fame honors Deanna Daniels
Pima ended their 2010-11 season women’s basketball on a high note, finishing runner-up at Nationals and its superstar was honored by the hall of fame.
Deanna Daniels
Sophomore forward Deanna Daniels was Pima’s top player all season long and in May the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame requested her home jersey to be displayed in Knoxville, Tenn.
Daniels earned numerous awards, like first team All-American and CAT Power Player Award at Nationals, averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds.
Softball team falls in Regional title game
The softball team came up one run short of a trip to Nationals in extra innings and an upset of eventual national Champion Yavapai College on the road at Regionals.
Second seeded Pima (51-14) dropped the first championship game of the double elimination Regional tourney 3-2 to top seeded Yavapai College in the bottom of the ninth and then the second championship game 12-3. Pima’s arch rivals ended the Aztecs’ season in the Regional championship game for the third year in a row.
After leading the ACCAC in strikeouts, freshman pitcher Mari Contreras (30-3) earned first team All-American honors by the National Junior College Athletic Association. Also on the first team of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-West Region was freshman utility Jessica Schneider.
Sophomore catcher Charissa Ballesteros and sophomore first baseman Mercedes Garcia were All-West Region 2nd Team.
In other Pima softball news, the University of Arizona hired Yavapai head coach Stacy Iveson, returning the former Pima coach to Tucson after her fourth NJCAA National Championship and her second in three years. Former Aztec Lisa Parks was named her replacement.
Parks was a two time All-American at Pima, leading the Aztecs to the 2004 National Champions, one of two national titles won by Iveson at PCC, the other in 2006.
Baseball swept by Central in first round
The baseball team’s return to the playoffs was short lived.
The fourth seeded Aztecs’ (29-27) return to the playoffs after a four year hiatus ended in two games after being swept on the road by top seeded Central Arizona in the Regional semifinals. The Vaqueros won the first of the three game series 4-1 and then the second 8-0.
Central finished second at Nationals.
Track and field finish 18th and 21st at Nationals
Women’s track and field finished 18th at Nationals and the men’s team finished 21st.
For the men, freshman Dylan Moeykens finished fourth in the decathlon. Sophomore Christian Tovar and freshman Chris Howard finished seventh and eighth respectively in the shot put and sophomore Frederick Scarber finished 10th in the high jump.
The women’s 4×800 relay team, freshman Mary Cozby, sophomore Brianna Fugere, freshman Elizabeth Romero and sophomore Janeen Yazzie finished in fifth place.
Sophomore Ashley Dorado placed sixth in the 400 meter hurdles, freshman Jaqi Bell finished eighth in the javelin and Cozby tenth in the 1500 meter run.
At Regionals the women placed 3rd and the men 4th.
Mari Contreras
Women’s tennis earns best-ever Division I finish
The women’s tennis team finished off their season at the Reffkin Tennis Center in Tucson at the 2011 NJCAA National Tournament where they earned their best ever Division I finish, 15th.
Pima’s No. 1 singles player, freshman Tatum Rochin, won her consolation bracket defeating her opponent 8-2.
The No. 1 doubles team of Rochin and freshman Victoria Bravo and the No. 2 doubles team of sophomore Lydia Carlson and freshman Olivia Cole-Encinas both made it to the finals of their consolation bracket.
Rochin and Bravo lost 8-6, while Carlson and Cole-Encinas lost their match 8-4.
Fifteenth is the women’s best finish since moving into the NJCAA Division I in 2004.
Men’s tennis finishes 13th at Nationals
Pima Community College men’s tennis team ended their season 13th at the 2011 NJCAA National Tournament in Plano, Texas.
Their No. 1 player, sophomore Alan Barrios was eliminated in his consolation bracket final by scores 7-5 and 6-4. No. 5 freshman Jacob Nino ended up winning his consolation bracket with a score of 6-1 and 6-3.
Pima also had a good performance out of its No. 1 doubles team pair of sophomore Andrew Barnett and freshman Timothy Holten. Barnett/Holten won two matches on the final day to claim the top of their consolation bracket against College of Dupage (Ill.) 6-4 and 7-6 and McHenry (Ill.) College 7-6 and 7-5.
Men’s golf finishes 20th at Nationals
Aztec men’s golf ended the 2011 NJCAA National Golf Tournament in 20th place overall.
Pima shot a total of 1220 as a team over the four day tournament.
Sophomore Mark Ontiveros was the top Aztec as he finished the four days with a shot total of 300 which was third best among all ACCAC competitors and good enough to earn him a tie for 37th place.
The next finishes for Pima were sophomore Robert Perrott III who finished in a tie for 63rd place with a total of 305, freshman Adam Ortiz finished in 75th with a total of 309, and sophomore Anthony Grijalva placed 85th overall with a score of 311.
Women’s golf duo finishes 40th and 64th at Nationals
Aztec women’s golf finished off their season at Nationals in Daytona, Fla.
The only two representatives were freshmen Alyssa Vega and Chloe Treece.
Overall, Treece tied for 40th place with a four-day total of 350. Shooting 96 on the first day, a 86 on the second, 79 on the third and 89 on the final day.
Vega finished off her season in 64th place with a four day total of 376. She shot 94 on her first day, a 90 on the second, a 97 on the third and a 95 on the final day.
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PLAYOFF UPDATE: Baseball swept by Central
By JAMES KELLEY
Photo by LEFTRICK HERD
The Pima Community College baseball team was swept by Central Arizona College in the Region 1 semifinals.
Top-seeded Central (46-12) finished off fourth-seeded Pima (29-27) 8-0 in Game 2 of the three-game series in Coolidge, Ariz.
Freshman pitcher Jose Gomez started but was unable to record any outs. He gave up five runs on six hits.
The Aztecs’ offense didn’t fare much better, managing only four hits off the Vaqueros.
Central wins Game 1
The top-seeded Central Arizona College baseball team opened the Region 1 semifinals with a 4-1 win over visiting Pima Community College.
Freshman Keith Zuniga (7-4) suffered the loss for Pima after giving up four runs on six hits in six innings of work. He gave up just one extra base hit.
Jovony Valenzuela
Sophomore Torry Mowatt pitched in relief. He threw two scoreless innings and surrendered one hit.
The Aztecs’ only hits came from freshmen infielders Joseph Haskell, who had a triple, and Mario Sanchez.
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PCC ends playoff drought, faces Central again
Story and video by JAMES SARGENT
Photos by LEFTRICK HERD
The Pima Community College baseball team can mark their calendars for a best of three series against Central Arizona College on May 5 because they are heading to the Region I tournament.
“We are going to pitch (Keith) Zuniga on Thursday and (Jose) Gomez on Friday,” head coach Jason Hisey said of his game plan. “If we get to the weekend, we don’t know yet.”
This will end a four-year playoff drought. They missed the playoffs in 2010, 2009 and 2008.
“I think we improved a little every week,” Hisey said. “It’s a tough and competitive league. You can have a good team and play well and still lose games. It’s a grind all the way to the end and we are just happy to be in.”
Jovony Valenzuela
PCC (29-25, 19-19 in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) claimed the fourth seed in the tournament. No. 2 ranked Central Arizona College (44-12, 30-8) will be the top seed, No. 21 South Mountain Community College (38-18, 25-13) is the second seed and the third seed is Yavapai College (34-22, 22-16).
Against Central Arizona, Pima went 0-4, losing 4-0 and 6-5 away, and 5-4 and 10-9 at home.
“We have had very good games with Central and all four run differential is six runs,” Hisey said. “We’ve lost every one but we have been very competitive with them and hopefully we can get over the hump a couple times this week.”
If PCC is to move on past Central Arizona, they would face the winner between South Mountain and Yavapai on the road.
Against South Mountain, the Aztecs went 2-2. They split the games on the road, winning the first 4-2 and losing the nightcap 3-1. At home they split again, losing the first 5-3 and winning the nightcap 4-3.
Pima also went 2-2 against Yavapai, splitting both games at home and on the road. At home, they won game one big 11-1 but lost the nightcap 5-3. On the road, they won the first 12-7 and lost the nightcap 8-2.
Three Aztecs were selected all-stars, as freshman infielder Hayden Cota-Robles, freshman infielder Joseph Haskell and freshman pitcher Keith Zuniga (7-3) received All-ACCAC, second team and All-Region I, second team.
Torry Mowatt
On April 30, Central swept the Aztecs at Pima.
Freshman pitcher Julio Felix (2-5) took the loss in game one as he gave up five runs through 4 1/3 innings of work. Sophomore pitcher Torry Mowatt (6-5) pitched the final 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Freshman infielder Joseph Haskell provided most of the offense as he went 2-4 with a triple and three RBIs.
In game two, sophomore pitcher Eric Fredrick (4-4) was rendered with a loss as he gave up four runs on only one hit. Walks and defensive miscues made Fredrick’s start a short one.
Freshman infielder Hayden Cota-Robles led the way at the plate as he went 2-4 with a pair of doubles, three runs and an RBI.
PCC traveled to Eastern Arizona College for a doubleheader on April 28. The Gila Monsters won the opener 4-1 but the Aztecs came back and crushed EAC 14-2 in the nightcap.
Zuniga lost the first game while tossing four innings and allowing four runs on five hits.
Haskell knocked in the only Pima run as he went 2-4.
In game two, freshman pitcher Jose Gomez (7-3) pitched a complete game while allowing two unearned runs and striking out nine batters.
The Aztec offense was on fire as they had 17 hits. Cota-Robles provided a big bat as he went 3-4, hit a home run and scored three runs. Sophomore catcher Cameron Blazevich also swung the bat very well as he went 4-5, hit a double and drove in three RBIs.
Pima swept a pair of road conference games against Cochise College on April 23. PCC won the opener 3-2, and then completed the sweep with a 7-5 win in the nightcap.
Zuniga started game one and recorded the victory as he went six innings and struck out six Apache batters. Sophomore Robert Ravago (1-0) earned his second save of the season as he pitched in relief of Zuniga.
Sophomore infielder Jovony Valenzuela provided much of the offense with one hit, a two-run home run, his team leading fourth of the season.
In game two, Gomez picked up the win as he gave up five runs on seven hits through 5 ⅔ innings of work. Ravago earned his second save of the day as he threw the final 3 ⅓ innings of scoreless baseball.
Freshman shortstop Mario Sanchez hit his first home run as he went 1-4 with two RBIs. Valenzuela drove in two more Aztecs as he went 2-3 with a double and finished the day 3-6.
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Baseball tries to hold on to last playoff spot
By JAMES SARGENT
The Pima Community College baseball team split a conference doubleheader against Yavapai College, winning the first game 12-7 and losing the nightcap 8-2.
A press release was not available.
Pima (24-22, 15-15 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) as of April 17 holds the last playoff spot by percentage points over Cochise College.
On April 23, the Aztecs travel to Douglas to play the Apaches in a critical ACCAC doubleheader.
On April 16, PCC split a pair of home conference games against No. 15 South Mountain Community College. The Aztecs lost the first game 5-3, but won the nightcap 4-3.
Freshman Juan Vega (0-2) started and lost game one, pitching 5 1/3 innings while allowing four runs, two earned.
Freshman infielder Joseph Haskell provided two thirds of the runs while hitting a two RBI double. He also stole a base.
In game two, sophomore Torry Mowatt (5-5) picked up the win out of the bullpen, relieving sophomore starter Erick Fredrick (3-3).
Haskell again provided a spark at the plate as he went 2-5 with a triple, run scored and two stolen bases. Freshman catcher Marc Gavre earned an RBI.
Games scheduled for April 14 were postponed due to rain.
On April 12, the Aztecs split a pair of conference games with No. 6 Paradise Valley Community College. Pima lost the opener 7-6, but bounced back to win the nightcap 6-5.
Freshman Keith Zuniga (5-2) started the first game but did not figure in the decision. Mowatt picked up the loss out of the bullpen in 3 2/3 innings of work.
Freshman infielder Mario Sanchez led the way at the plate as he scored a pair of runs and drove in two RBIs.
In game two, freshman Jose Gomez (5-2) earned the win, allowing three runs on two hits. Sophomore Robert Ravago (1-0) threw the final two innings and earned the save.
Freshman infielder Hayden Cota-Robles went 3-3 with a pair of doubles. Sanchez also went 3-4 with a pair of doubles.
Sophomore infielder Jovony Valenzuela provided the big blast, as his only hit was a three-run home run.
On Deck
April 23: @ Cochise College, noon
April 26: Scotsdale CC, noon
April 28: @ Eastern Arizona College, noon
April 30: Central Arizona College, noon
All dates are doubleheaders and home games are at the West Campus.
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ATHLETIC VOICE: Tucson must support AAA Padres
By JAMES KELLEY
aztecpress@pima.edu
Not that I would know, of course, but there can’t be many feelings better than failing a test and then getting to retake it.
After Tucson failed to support its last Triple-A team, the Old Pueblo gets a second chance with a new team at baseball’s second highest level, the Tucson Padres.
Conversely, embarrassing attendance numbers could mean the end of pro sports in Tucson for years to come. Every pro sports team here has failed, except the independent Tucson Toros.
The Tucson Padres, nee Portland Beavers, needed a new home when they got kicked out of their ballpark so it could be converted to a Major League Soccer stadium.
This is a golden opportunity. If Tucson can’t convince the Padres to stay, it can position itself as the prettiest girl at the dance when other Triple-A teams are thinking about moving.
Tucson’s history, a AAA city from 1969-2008, coupled with two usable stadiums plus good attendance, could mean being able to take a team from a place like Las Vegas, Charlotte, Nashville or Scranton.
The T-Pads will be in town at least this year, and most likely next. An April 9 report in the North County Times made it sound like Escondido, Calif., won’t be able to get financing in place until 2014, with construction taking a little more than a year.
If I were San Diego/Tucson Padres owner Jeff Moorad, I would stay in the Old Pueblo if the Jr. Padres get good crowds. I never understood why you want to move your Triple-A team so close to your major league team. (Escondido is 35 minutes from San Diego.)
I like Triple-A and all, but why would anyone go see Minor League Baseball when you can see MLB?
Sure a suburb of San Diego is much closer than Tucson, but it is not as if they are calling up players from New Orleans or Portland.
Plus, speaking as a (lately reluctant) Diamondbacks fan, I can tell you that D’backs fans are an endangered species in Tucson. What better way for San Diego to stick it to division rival Arizona than to build a fan base in Arizona?
The only other way to get new team is to build a new stadium and we all know that won’t happen for a long time.
Remember, it is a hassle coupled with a burden to get a stadium built in a liberal place like Tucson, California or New York, unlike conservative places like Phoenix or Texas.
Republicans seem to be against spending money on health care or education, but stadiums are all good.
The stage is set for the Padres to be successful and they hardly look like a lame duck franchise.
The promotions sound appealing, such as military appreciation nights (with the famous Padres camo jerseys), two-for-one tickets nights, $1 hot dog nights, Roll Back the Clock Night at Hi Corbett Field, fireworks nights and, of course, $1 beer nights.
The uniforms and logo are cool too. The logo is a combination of the old cactus and mountain University of Arizona logo everyone loves and the 1970s Padres jersey script, but it is blue instead of the toilet colors, yellow and brown.
Tucson also brought in beloved former Tucson Toros general manager Mike Feder to head the team.
Heck, the local daily paper even gave the Padres four full pages on April 10. They generally ignore local sports other than UA football and men’s basketball.
Here’s your chance Tucson. Don’t strike out again.
Check out the Tucson Padres website
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ONLINE ONLY: Tucson Padres Slideshow
By JAMES KELLEY
Tucson new Triple-A team, the Tucson Padres, hosts the Salt Lake City Bees in the Padres’ first Military Appreciation Night. The Padres, taking a cue from their MLB parent, honors military every Sunday and dons camouflage uniforms. For more information go to TucsonPadres.com
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Sibling pitchers find home in Tucson
Story by JAMES SARGENT
Photo by JAMES KELLEY
Softball and baseball has been the focal points in the lives of Taryne and Torry Mowatt.
Both Taryne, 24, and Torry, 20, started playing tee ball when they were 4 years old. Their love for the game grew as the years went by and careers for both of them started to form.
The Mowatts grew up in Corona, Calif. Taryne was the first to make the trip out to Tucson to play softball for the University of Arizona.
“I wanted to go to a school that was going to give me an education and a chance to win a championship, and I knew that Arizona was going to be the best bet,” Taryne said.
Taryne went on to become one of the best pitchers in Arizona softball history.
She won 100 games over her tenure as a starting pitcher and was a part of the 2006 and 2007 National Championship teams.
In 2007, Taryne won the Most Outstanding Player award at the Women’s College World Series, after throwing more than 1,000 pitches in a week to lead the UA to its eighth National Championship.
“There aren’t words to describe it unless you have felt the greatest moment in your life,” Mowatt said of winning the College World Series. “It was something that not many people can say they have accomplished and I got to do it with some of my best friends.”
In 2007, Taryne also won two ESPY Awards for Best Female Athlete, beating the likes of Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker and Best Female College Athlete.
“I was shocked, I didn’t see it happening,” Taryne said. “I was content with just being there, but when they said my name, in my head I was thinking, ‘Great, now I have to go give a speech in front of millions of viewers and all the best athletes in the world.’ But it was really fun and I would love to do it every year if I could.”
Taryne currently is a member of the Chicago Bandits in the National Pro Fastpitch, formerly the Women’s Pro Softball League. The up-and-coming league has four teams total.
She is helping to lay the groundwork for softball players to have an adequate living in the future by building the NPF to higher standards. She was drafted by the Washington Glory in 2008, but has been on three teams in three years.
Outside of softball, Taryne loves music and updating her Twitter page. She also has started her own website, Taryne.com, which gives updates on camps, clinics, appearances, games and other interesting, fan-friendly information.
Her brother, Torry, on the other hand, does not quite have the resume that his older sister has, but has enjoyed success of his own.
Torry Mowatt, left and Taryne Mowatt, right
Torry moved to Tucson to live with his sister and play baseball. He was recruited to play out of high school but suffered an injury. That led to Tucson, and Pima Community College, being his best bet.
“I came out here as an outfielder and a couple turn of events, turned into a pitcher,” Torry said of his experience at Pima. “Last year, I was more of a thrower than a pitcher, but thanks to the summer, I learned a lot of new things and worked with a lot of different styles of baseball.”
Torry has definitely improved with pitching as he is now, arguably, one of the Aztecs’ best pitchers.
“I thought it was going to be a lot tougher of a transition,” Torry said. “It has been more mentally tough than anything.”
As of April 5, Torry was 5-4 with a 3.97 ERA and has recorded 40 strikeouts on the season. He primarily comes out of the bullpen but has started a game.
Torry’s plan for after Pima is one with many decisions.
“I have school, a pro career that is now a reality and Division 1 ball to think about as options,” Torry said. “Every little kid’s dream growing up is to play pro ball and it has always been a dream of mine. It is now a little bit stronger because it is actually a reality where it is just a matter of me reaching out and grabbing it.”
When baseball isn’t on Torry’s mind, he loves to go fishing.
“If I had the chance to do it everyday, I’d do it,” Torry said of fishing.
The Mowatts also have two other siblings, Jordan, 17, and Anthony, 13.
Jordan is a softball player like her sister, and plays high school ball in California. According to Taryne, Jordan will most likely continue to play in college, though mostly likely in the Golden State.
Family life is a big part of the Mowatts and this is evident in Taryne’s support of her brother Torry.
“I try to make all the games that I know he is pitching in,” Taryne said.
Taryne and Torry will throw together on occasion and run together to keep in shape.
Working out on your own was the main training tip that both Mowatts mentioned as the keys to their success.
“My work ethic has helped me to be the best baseball player that I can be,” Torry said.
Taryne and Torry are both still young and have many more years of baseball and softball ahead of them.
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Baseball earns two POWs, then drops four straight
Story by JAMES SARGENT
Photo by LEFTRICK HERD
The Pima Community College baseball team lost a pair of conference games on April 5 to Arizona Western College, 10-1 and 10-8.
“We can’t give up 20 runs in a doubleheader and expect to win a game,” head coach Jason Hisey said.
The Aztecs’ (21-19, 12-12 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) losses came after winning two player of the week awards for the week ending March 27.
“We are disappointed but we can’t get discouraged,” Hisey said. “We just gotta play better.”
In game one, freshman pitcher Julio Felix (2-4) took the loss as he gave up five earned runs through only two innings of work.
Sophomore pitcher Erick Fredrick (3-3) started game two, but sophomore Torry Mowatt (5-3) received the loss out of the bullpen. Mowatt threw 4 2/3 innings while allowing five earned runs on eight hits.
Freshman infielder Joseph Haskell also hit the ball well in the nightcap as he went 2-4, hit a triple and scored three runs. Freshman infielder, and reigning National Junior College Athletic Association Region 1 Batter of the Week, Hayden Cota-Robles knocked in three RBIs.
The Aztecs dropped a pair of conference games on April 2 to No. 16 Central Arizona College, 4-0 and 6-5.
Freshman pitcher, and co-pitcher of the week winner through March 20-27, Keith Zuniga (5-2) started game one and worked all six innings, allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits in the 4-0 shutout loss.
Eric Fredrick
In game two, Mowatt picked up the loss out of the bullpen as he relieved freshman pitcher Jose Gomez (4-2). Mowatt allowed two runs on four hits in the 6-5 loss.
Freshman outfielder Kyle Kilgore went 3-4, scored a run and drove in two RBIs.
On March 29, PCC split a pair of conference games with Phoenix College. The Aztecs lost the opener, 5-2, but bounced back to beat the Bears, 4-3, in the nightcap.
In game one, Felix got the loss, giving up three earned runs in four innings of work.
Fredrick started game two but did not factor in the decision as Mowatt picked up the win out of the bullpen. Mowatt threw 3 2/3 shutout innings and only allowed two hits.
Freshman catcher Marc Gavre was the Aztecs’ top hitter as he went 3-4 with a triple and two RBIs.
Pima won a pair on March 26 against Mesa Community College, 5-0 and 11-5.
Zuniga threw a complete game shutout in game one, allowing four hits total and striking out eight Thunderbird hitters.
In game two, Gomez earned the win while throwing five innings, allowing four runs, one earned, on three hits.
Mowatt threw the last three innings, shutting out Mesa while surrendering two hits.
Cota-Robles led the way at the plate as he went a combined 5-8, with a pair of doubles and four RBIs. Freshman outfielder Ryan Cota also chipped in, going a combined 4-7 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
When asked if Pima will make the playoffs, Hisey acknowledged that losses will not cut it. PCC was in fourth place before losing to Western.
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