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By STEVE CHOICE

The Pima Community College softball team entered regional tournament play on May 5 needing three consecutive victories to qualify for nationals. Luckily, that’s exactly what it got.

The Aztecs defeated arch rival Yavapai College twice and Eastern Arizona College once to punch their tickets to St. George, Utah, where the national tournament will be played on May 17-19.

Any loss on day two of the double-elimination tournament would’ve sent Pima packing for the year, since PCC split its two games the first day.

Pima dropped a 3-0 decision to Eastern Arizona College to start day one. The Aztecs then took a 6-0 decision against Central Arizona College, setting the stage for the next day’s heroics.

Pima started the second day by knocking off EAC 7-2.

Freshman pitcher Yvette Alvarez went the distance for Pima, surrendering only four hits and striking out five. Sophomore Nicole Rascon starred at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Freshman Cynthia Pelayo also added a solo home run.

That left the Aztecs needing two victories against Yavapai to advance.

The pitching matchup for the first game pitted Alvarez versus Tucson native Estela Piñon, who had dominated PCC twice earlier in the year.

Alvarez turned the tables on her counterpart, as Pima rode a six-run sixth inning to a convincing 9-0 win.

Jessica Schneider had a big game with the bat, knocking in six. The sophomore went 3-for-4, including a round-tripper and a double. Freshmen Amber Calvillo and Aubre Carpenter each scored twice.

The Aztecs again turned to Alvarez in the final game. She pitched the first six innings of the 9-6 Pima triumph, leaving in the seventh with Roughriders on second and third and no outs.

Sophomore Mari Contreras came in to dash YC’s hopes, recording three straight outs for the save.

Pima also used the long ball to put Yavapai away, as freshman Noelle Medina launched a grand slam in a five-run third inning. Schneider added another blast in the first.

Alvarez pitched 20 of the 21 innings Pima played in the three-game set. She was named the tournament’s most valuable player.

The squad also had numerous players receive All-ACCAC and All-Region 1 recognition:

First team all-conference

Jessica Schneider

Nicole Rascon

Mari Contreras

Second team all-conference

Jessica Sipe

Gemma Contreras

Cynthia Pelayo

Third team all-conference

Aubre Carpenter

Yvette Alvarez

All-region

Mari Contreras

Jessica Schneider

Nicole Rascon

Gemma Contreras

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By STEVE CHOICE

 The Pima Community College softball team finished the regular season the same way it played most of it – red hot.

The Aztecs tapped into some “sophomore day” energy on April 28 to easily sweep Mesa Community College at home, 9-1 and 7-0.

Seven PCC sophomores played their final games at West Campus, and were honored by family members, friends and teammates in a postgame ceremony at home plate.

“It was a sad day, just knowing it’s the last day I’m going to play here,” sophomore pitcher Mari Contreras said. “We had extra motivation because it’s sophomore day.”

Contreras, who will continue her career at the University of Texas-El Paso next year, turned in a dominant performance in game one of the double-dip. The future Miner surrendered just two hits and struck out eight to run her record to 20-5.

Sophomore pitcher Monet Ormsby also shut down MCC in game two. She finished a spotless regular season at 8-0.

Freshman Aubre Carpenter had a busy day at the plate, going 5-for-8, including two doubles. Sophomore Jessica Sipe also contributed, going 2-for-4 in game one, with three RBIs. Fellow sophomore Jessica Schneider erupted for two homers in the nightcap, tallying five RBIs.

The other three sophomores honored in the ceremony were Nicole Rascon, Kristi Shepherd and Jacqueline Deen.

PCC split a doubleheader against archrival Yavapai College on April 24, losing game one 4-0 and taking the nightcap 9-2.

Pima also took a pair from Phoenix College on April 21.

The Aztecs finished at 49-12 for the regular season, including 39-9 in conference play.

Next up for PCC will be the regional tournament in Prescott, with Yavapai as host.

Four teams there will vie for a lone berth to the NJCAA Division I national tournament in St. George, Utah, on May 17-19.

Contreras is feeling good about the Aztecs’ chances to make it through, but she knows Yavapai is one team standing in their way.

“It proved a lot by us beating them, because we hadn’t beaten them since I don’t remember when,” she said. “Our goal is to win regionals. I know we can do it.”

Pima opens regional play against Eastern Arizona College on May 4 at 10 a.m.

The Pima Community College softball team knows a thing or two about sweeping their opponents in doubleheaders.

The Aztecs have accomplished the feat in 14 of 21 opportunities this season.

That’s why it may have been a little surprising when the Aztecs recently split with two teams they had kicked around earlier in the year.

Pima split with Chandler-Gilbert Community College on April 3, then also took one of two against South Mountain Community College on April 7.

As a result, PCC slipped to No. 12 in the latest NJCAA Division I poll.

Head coach Armando Quiroz wasn’t concerned about the losses, though.

“That’s just part of any season,” he said. “We’re right where we want to be. Our expectations are high as always, and we’re picking up the intensity in practice.”

Not surprisingly, Quiroz was happy to see the squad break out the brooms against Arizona Western College on April 10.

“It felt good to get the sweep against Western,” he said. “For us, sweeping our opponents is what we consider normal. There’s little middle ground for us – we want to win both every time.”

Sophomore Mari Contreras pitched Pima to victory in game one against the Matadors.

Sophomores Nicole Rascon and Jessica Sipe had big days at the plate, along with freshmen Aubre Carpenter, Alejandra Ortiz and Shawna Comeaux.

Freshman Yvette Alvarez also starred, ending game two with a grand slam.

Pima followed up by taking two 10-1 decisions against GateWay Community College on April 17.

The Aztecs now stand at 44-11 on the season, including a 34-8 conference mark.

On April 24, PCC will get a chance to avenge something that’s even more rare for them – having an opponent sweep them.

Yavapai College will come to town that day as one of just two teams to have turned the trick against the Aztecs this season.

Quiroz said his team welcomes the challenge against the No. 3 Roughriders.

“Anytime you can play a great squad like Yavapai, that’s what you want for your program,” he said. “They have quite a talented team. We’re looking forward to it.”

By Larry Gaurano

Pima Community College’s softball team split a doubleheader on the road against Phoenix College on March 6.

The one loss ended a 14-game winning streak for the Aztecs.  PCC is now 23-5 and 18-2 in conference play.

Pima won the first game 9-1, as pitcher Mari Contreras improved to 9-2 on the season.

Contreras finished with eight strikeouts and gave up six hits and one run. The Aztecs scored in every inning except the first.
Jessica Schneider went 2-4 with a homer, a double and three RBIs. Aubre Carpenter went 3-4 with two RBIs. Nicole Rascon also had a busy day at the plate, going 4-5 with a triple and two runs scored.

The Aztecs dropped the second game 6-4 to halt the winning streak. Yvette Alvarez took the loss, dropping her to 8-3 on the campaign.

Jessica Sipe hit a solo roundtripper for the Aztecs. Noelle Medina went 1-3 with an RBI double.

On March 3, PCC dominated Gateway Community College in a doubleheader.

In the first game, the Aztecs won 7-0 as sophomore Marina Contreras improved her record to 8-2 for the year, striking out 10 batters.

Rascon contributed by going 3-4 with one RBI, a triple and a stolen base. Freshman catcher Alejandra Ortiz also went 1-3 with two RBIs.

The Aztecs rode a seven-run third inning to take game two 8-0.

Alvarez notched the victory, striking out five batters in four innings.

The Aztecs also took a doubleheader from Arizona Western College on Feb. 25.

The Aztecs won the first game 3-1. Alvarez was stingy in picking up the win, allowing just one run and two hits, while striking out three.

Rascon went 1-3, knocking in three. Freshman Gemma Contreras also finished 2-3.

The Aztecs won the second game 14-6. Sophomore pitcher Monet Ormsby got the win, improving to 5-0 for the season. Medina went 2-3 hitting two home runs in the fourth inning and a three-run homer in the seventh. Comeaux went 4-5 with three RBIs and one run scored.

Stellar pitching performances by Contreras and Alvarez kept South Mountain Community College from scoring in a road doubleheader on Feb. 21.

Contreras pitched a complete game shutout in the first game, striking out 10 and allowing only three hits in the 5-0 victory. Rascon went 3-4 with a triple and scored twice. Carpenter also went 3-4 and had two RBIs.

Alvarez went the distance in game two, allowing three hits in the 13-0 Pima win. Carpenter helped seal the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when she hit a bases-loaded double.

ON DECK

March 10: @ Yavapai College Prescott, noon.
March 13: @ Mesa Community College Mesa, 2 p.m.
March 15: @ Scottsdale Community College Scottsdale, 2 p.m.
March 16-17: CAC Tournament:
El Paso Community College Casa Grande, 1 p.m.
Howard Community College Casa Grande, 3 p.m.
Seminole State Casa Grande, 7 p.m.
Clackamas Community College Casa Grande, 9 a.m.
Northern Oklahoma Casa Grande, 1 p.m.
March 20: Paradise Valley Community College @ Pima, 2 p.m.

The Pima Community College softball team wrapped up a successful stretch against Central Arizona College, Glendale Community College and Chandler-Gilbert Community College on Feb 11 and 14.

The Aztecs continued their hot play and improved their record to 16-4 on the season.

The look of victors was one they wore naturally in their past six games. The Aztecs were too much for Chandler-Gilbert to handle on Saturday, Feb. 18, easily sweeping the doubleheader 9-1 and 10-2.

PCC kept swinging the bats in its Feb. 14 doubleheader, when the Aztecs punished the GCC Gauchos 7-0 and 19-3.

Pima also swept CAC on Feb. 11, taking down the Vaqueras 6-4 and 6-2.

Sophomore Marina Contreras keeps bringing the heat for the Aztecs. She remains the teams pitching leader with a 2.18 earned run average, followed by freshman Yvette Alvarez with a 3.17 ERA.

Sophomore pitcher Monet Ormsby is the squad’s leading hitter, batting a torrid .571.

Freshman catcher Yarelyn Romero follows up Ormsby hitting .500 on the season.

The Aztecs hope to keep up their hot bats and stellar pitching while on the road for their next couple of games, competing against South Mountain Community College and Arizona Western College. The Aztecs fared well against both last season, beating SMCC in three out of four games and AWC in four out of five.

Pima's pitching has been white hot this season. Photo by LEFTRICK HERD

Pima Community College softball team is shining as they push their PCC record to 205-60.

The Aztecs faced Eastern Arizona College on  Feb. 7, winning one of the two-game series. Sophomore Marina Contreras was marked as the losing pitcher in the first game, but struck out 10.

Pima came back in the second game, beating the Gilas 13-3. Freshman pitcher Yvette Alvarez notched the win, striking out two batters.

Freshman infielder Aubre Carpenter drove in three runs, going 4-4 on the team’s win. Freshman infielder Noelle Medina followed Carpenter’s lead, going 2-4, with two RBIs in the win.

Continuing with their winning streak, the Aztecs took both wins in a double header against Paradise Valley Community College on Feb. 4, 8-0 and 8-2 respectively.

Contreras was the winning pitcher in the first game with five strikeouts. Sophomore Monet Ormsby won the second game, recording four strikeouts.

Sophomore infielder Jessica Sipe has not gotten tired of being the key player for the Aztecs in their consecutive wins. Sipe’s home run in the bottom of the fifth ended the first part of the double header Jan. 31, against Scottsdale Community College.

The game ended with a final score of 9-0. Contreras was the winning pitcher, with nine strikeouts.

The second part of the doubleheader was no different. Pima defeated the Artichokes 12-0. Starting pitcher Alvarez went all five innings, with three strikeouts.

Contributors to the win included Carpenter, who went 2-3 with one triple, two runs and three RBIs. Sophomore infielder Jessica Schneider drove two runs in with her two doubles, going 2-2 at the plate. Sipe went 1-2 with one run, one RBI and a home run.

On Jan. 27, PCC headed to Las Vegas to compete against North Idaho College, Odessa College, Western Nevada College, Chattanooga State Community College, College of Southern Idaho, Snow College, El Paso Community College and Salt Lake Community College in Las Vegas Tournament play.

The Aztecs finished the tourney with a 5-3 record, bringing head coach Armando Quiroz’s 200th win for PCC softball team.

Photo by Leftrick Herd

Don Stopa, Pima Community College assistant baseball coach and sports information director, has been named head softball coach at Louisburg College in Louisburg, N.C.

“I really enjoyed my time in Tucson and I am glad I had a chance to be a part of a great athletic department and a great institution,” Stopa said in a press release.

On Jan. 1, Stopa took over as head coach of Louisburg’s Lady Hurricanes, who were 24-20 in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region X last season.

“The Hurricanes’ softball program looks to add a new chapter to an institution with a great tradition of excellence and I feel that I can lead the program to success, and even to the top of the National Junior College Athletic Association,” Stopa said.

He will replace head coach of three seasons, Monica Gordy, who accepted a position at Mars Hill College in Asheville, N.C.

Before Gordy, the Hurricanes won nine straight NJCAA Region X Titles and made three trips to the NJCAA National Tournament.

Stopa joined the PCC Department of Athletics in the summer of 2007.

In addition to coaching baseball and serving as sports information director, he was an assistant softball coach for the past year and a half, helping the Aztecs to a 51-14 record last season and ranking ninth in the NJCAA.

The Aztecs also competed in the regional championship, finishing one game short of a third trip to the National Tournament in the last eight years, which include two national titles.

With more than 12 years of coaching collegiate ball, with three years as the head softball coach at Graceland University, Stopa hopes to lead the Lady Hurricanes back to the top ranks in the NJCAA.

Stopa graduated from Graceland with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in media writing. He originally hails from White Rock, British Columbia, Canada, where he grew up and his family still resides.

Everyone talks about feasting over the holidays. First comes Thanksgiving, with turkey and all the trimmings. Then come the December holidays, with more calorie indulgences.

In January, we make New Year resolutions to lose the weight we have gained.

But wait a minute… we have one more gluttonous holiday: Super Bowl Sunday.

Just 35 percent of Americans watched the Super Bowl last year, but it’s a holiday nonetheless. It may not be recognized officially, but retailers market the big game to consumers.

You’ll find TVs at great prices with special financing, and Super Bowl displays at every grocery store. Food channels suggest snacks to serve during the game. Radio stations host contests and other special events.

And in truth, not everyone who watches is even a football fan. Some friends gather at Super Bowl parties to watch the crazy commercials and to pig out. Sometimes, the game seems secondary.

So why not make your Super Bowl party as accommodating as it can be for your guests, whether they like football or not?

I do this each year by setting up food bars with plenty of variety.

Try a burrito bar, nacho bar or baked potato bar. Provide the primary ingredients, say tortillas and meat. Then ask your guests to bring two or three of their favorite toppings – enough to serve eight.

This makes it easy on you for two reasons: you share the costs and please picky eaters. Some people like cheese, some don’t. Some are vegetarians, while some are carnivores.

Provide a couple of desserts and you’ll have a happy bunch of friends. Make it a bring-your-own alcohol party, and you’re set.

Pima Community College’s softball team is ready to hit a home run this season with two returning first team All-Americans.

The Aztecs are looking for All-Americans sophomore pitcher Mari Contreras and sophomore utility player Jessica Schneider to lead the team.

Contreras topped the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference last season with 262 strikeouts.

She also led Pima with a 28-2 record, which was second best in the conference. In addition, her earned run average, 1.63, was the third lowest in the ACCAC.

Schneider, who plays first and third base, had the seventh-best batting average in the ACCAC, .485. She also tied for first in the conference with 27 doubles.

The Aztecs lost former catcher Charissa Ballesteros to the University of Texas at El Paso. However, the team gained sophomore catcher Alejandra Ortiz, a transfer from last year’s national champion Yavapai College.

The Pima roster includes nine sophomores and 13 freshmen.

Last year, Pima went 39-9 in conference play and placed second behind Yavapai.

The Aztecs starting fall scrimmages in September and have competed against club teams, junior colleges and Division I schools including the University of Arizona.

Pima’s first game of the new year in Las Vegas competing in the College of Southern Nevada tournament, Jan. 27-29. The Aztecs first home game will take place Jan. 31 against Scottsdale Community College at 2 p.m.

Jessica Schneider

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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Softball fall schedule

Baseball fall schedule

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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