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Women’s soccer players honored

Three Pima Community College women’s soccer team members were recognized for the efforts they gave in the 2010 season.

Sophomore Tamra James earned All-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference first team and All-Region 1 first team honors. The veteranforward led the team with 21 points as she scored nine goals and had three assists.

Two midfielders, sophomore Jessica Haught and freshman Adriana Ortiz, were both named to the All-ACCAC second team.

Softball wrapping up fall ball

The Pima Community College softball team is about to finish its 2010 fall scrimmage schedule.

Their last fall scrimmages will be on Wednesday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 13.

On Nov. 10, the Aztecs play Arizona Desert Thunder at 7 p.m.

Pima then closes out autumn with a doubleheader on Saturday, Nov. 13, against the Tucson Scramblers at West Campus. First pitch is scheduled for 8 a.m.

The Aztecs will then have about two months off until the 2011 season begins. The first game is against North Idaho College on Jan. 28 in Las Vegas at 11:30 a.m.

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With a slew of freshmen and a lot of holes to fill, fall ball is very important to the Pima Community College softball team.

The Aztecs finished last year ranked No. 4 and 57-11. They must replace numerous sophomores whose eligibility ran out.

“We have 18 freshmen, so it’s spring training for them all,” head coach Armando Quiroz said. “We’re very young but I think we are very talented, we just have to refine them.”

So far the Aztecs have played three doubleheaders against three Amateur Softball Association club teams. On Sept. 11 the Aztecs played the Desert Cobras, on Sept. 18 they played the Tucson Roadrunners and on Sept. 25 they played the Desert Thunder.

Though the games are considered scrimmages and scores and statistics are not officially kept, Pima has likely gone 5-1.

Last spring Pima signed eight high school seniors to National Letters of Intent and then added more players over the summer.

“I think the fall is crucial to us, because we are so young,” Quiroz said. “They’re getting their feet wet right now.”

A key spot to fill is at pitcher. 2010 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference player of the year Jordan Trujillo is now at the University of Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

“We have several candidates; we haven’t identified her yet,” Quiroz said.

He wouldn’t go into specifics because the players are still trying out but said he was excited about the players.

Charissa Ballesteros

“There have been some pleasant surprises with the team, I am just reluctant to give any names right now because we haven’t made any decisions,” Quiroz said. “There have been several pleasant surprises.”

Pima’s next games are on Oct. 2, a doubleheader against Pure Lightning at 10 a.m. at the West Campus. On Oct. 9, the Aztecs play Velocity at 10 a.m. in another double dip, also at the West Campus.

From Oct. 15 to Oct. 17, Pima plays in the University of Arizona’s fall tournament, which will feature the UA, University of New Mexico, Arizona Western College, Central Arizona College and Cypress College.

The Aztecs then play the UA again on Oct. 20.

Pima caps the fall by hosting the Tucson Scramblers Nov. 6 and the Arizona Elite Nov. 13.

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Five Pima Community College student athletes were recognized as National Junior College Athletic Association Academic All-Americans.

Freshman Megan Carney of women’s cross country and track and field, sophomore Andrea Benjamin from women’s basketball, sophomore Gabrielle Siltanen and sophomore Lucas Volk from track and field and softball sophomore Kaity Ingram were named Academic All-Americans.

Andrea Benjamin

The prerequisites for Academic All-American are: attending at least three full-time semesters, completion of at least 45 class hours, competed for at least one season and a grade point average of at least 3.60.

Ingram and Benjamin were on the Distinguished All-American list, with a GPA of at least 3.80.

Three Pima Community College softball players were named All-Americans.

Sophomore shortstop Kaity Ingram and sophomore catcher Melina Trujillo were named first team All-Americans by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, while sophomore pitcher Jordan Trujillo was named to the second team.

Jordan Trujillo and Ingram were also second team All-Americans, according to the National Junior College Athletic Association.

Kaity Ingram

Ingram earned the rare double, as she also was named to the Academic All-American squad, earning Distinguished All-American status, with a grade point average of at least 3.80.

The Aztecs finished 57-11 and won the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference championship before being upset by eventual national third place finisher Yavapai College in the NJCAA Region I championship.

2010 Pima Graduation Ceremony

Former Pima coach Roderick Gary named men’s head basketball coach

Former Pima, USA Baseball and Foothills coach Jason Hisey named head baseball coach

Men’s soccer holding tryouts July 5 and July 7

Aztecs earn Academic All-American accolades

Three softball players selected to All-American teams

Japanese Speech Contest, Aikido and Anime Club Videos

Women’s track & field takes 13th at Nationals, the men finish 17th

Video of baseball coach’s last home game

Men’s golf team finishes 18th at Nationals

Two women’s golfers finish in top 42 at Nationals

Living the Dream: Pima Fashion Show video

Both track & field teams finish third at Regionals

Chloe' Nowell

Men’s tennis finishes 19th at Nationals

Women’s tennis finishes 19th at Nationals

Men’s basketball coach Karl Pieroway steps down, again

Yavapai finishes off softball

Softball bounces back, advances to Semifinals

Softball upset by bottom seed

The top seeded Pima Community College softball team rebounded in its second game at Regionals with a 7-4 win over Central Arizona College.

Freshman pitcher Adrianna Garcia (19-5) saved the Aztecs’ season as she held the No. 3 seeded Vaqueras to four runs on eight hits. Pima lost the first game to No. 4 seed Arizona Western College 4-3.

Sophomore catcher Melina Trujillo went 2-3, hit a double and scored two runs, while sophomore outfielder Claudia Nunez hit a double, driving in two RBIs.

Pima returns to action Saturday at 11 a.m. to face the loser of the Arizona Western and No. 2 seed Yavapai College game.

The Aztecs would need to win three games on Saturday to go to Nationals.

Melina Trujillo

The No. 1 seeded Pima Community College softball team was upset by No. 4 seed Arizona Western College 4-3 in its first game at Regionals.

The ACCAC Player of the Year, sophomore pitcher Jordan Trujillo, (30-5) picked up the loss after giving up four runs on eight hits.

The Aztecs now face Central Arizona College in the first elimination game.

Jordan Trujillo

Recently, my family in Clifton went through a traumatic experience. My high school freshman daughter, Julia, was injured during a softball game. She was hospitalized at Tucson’s University Hospital with a punctured spleen and lacerated kidney after being cleated while sliding to third base during a high school softball game.

Her hospital stay was difficult. She was in constant pain and was constantly poked and prodded, not to mention being so far away from home, friends and family.

After the fourth grueling day of a five-day stay, a ray of sunshine came to her room in the form of three Pima Community College softball players and one amazing coach!

These four wonderful ladies took time out of their busy schedules to visit my daughter and bring her a signed team softball and team T-shirt. I don’t think they realize the effect this visit had on my daughter, and on us as well!

I would like to thank these awesome ladies for their selfless act of kindness to a teenager who really needed to believe that there are angels among us!

Rebekah Quiroz, Jordan Trujillo, Mercedes Garcia and Vanessa Arandules: Thank you from our whole hearts for taking the time to make our daughter’s day, and making her hospital stay a little less stressful.

There’s just one small problem. She and her older sister, who also plays softball, are in constant battle for the team T-shirt! LoL

Jesse, Janet and Julia Chavarria

Clifton, AZ (Home of the Fighting Trojans)

Another PCC tuition increase?

I read your article, “PCC eyes new round of cost-cutting steps” [Issue 3.] Another PCC tuition increase? When was the last time we had one, last year?

I’m a housewife with two children pursuing a degree in ECS, but this goal seems more out of my reach every day.

I’m considering quitting school altogether and just looking for a full-time job. A degree doesn’t seem worthy for a job and I can’t just work to pay school. It’s not like a few years ago. Too many cons to become a professional.

Financial aid is not of help for me. They want me to do full-time school, and I need to work, take care of the house, the kids and other activities.

I really hope we do not have another raise in tuition. Not everybody qualifies and gets financial aid for school studies.

Mary Spears

PCC student

So it has come down to this.

The Pima Community College softball team faces a murderer’s row schedule to close the season, including four games against its “natural rival” Yavapai College, in its bid to host Regionals.

On April 6, the No. 12 Aztecs (47-7, 18-4 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) took a pair of games at Arizona Western College, 3-2 and 8-5.

No. 4 Yavapai also swept its foe, keeping the two in a tie for first place.

“They’re huge, we’ve got to keep pace with Yavapai,” head coach Armando Quiroz said. “We’re right there, neck and neck.”

The doubleheader against the Matadors was so big that Pima pitched its ace, sophomore Jordan Trujillo (24-3) in both games. Sophomore shortstop Kaity Ingram hit three RBIs and freshman infielder Mercedes Garcia had a luxurious afternoon, getting three walks, going 3-4, scoring three runs and hitting a double.

The Arizona Western games started a rough 10-game stretch to close the season for the Aztecs as they try to clinch home field for the playoffs.

Pima hosts Yavapai on April 13, then travels to Prescott on April 27 to make up games that were twice postponed. In between those doubleheaders, the Aztecs play two teams they have gone 3-4 against.

“I think there will be some really important last few games and it’s going to be crucial whether we win or not,” Jordan Trujillo said. “We’re excited to play and ready, it’s going to be good.”

Yavapai, the preseason No. 1 and defending National Champion, is chockfull of Pima ties.

The Roughriders are coached by University of Arizona alumnus and Tucson native Stacy Iveson. Coincidentally she also coached Pima before Quiroz took over.

Iveson won two National Championships at Pima in 2004 and 2006. Also, the team’s hitting, infielder and strength coach, Lisa Parks, played for Pima in 2004.

“They’re our natural rival, but we like to play the good teams and I am sure they do too,” Quiroz said.

Roughrider sophomore infielder Molly Brossart, who is No. 8 in the nation in home runs and No. 10 in RBIs, defected to Yavapai after playing for the Aztecs last year.

It may not have been that big a loss for the Aztecs, as freshman Charissa Ballesteros replaced her at first base and is now No. 3 in the nation with 60 RBIs.

Jordan Trujillo wouldn’t go so far as to call Yavapai the Aztecs’ rival but does look forward to the games. The two teams are tied in the loss column but Yavapai has played two more games.

Jordan Trujillo

“We want to play them and that’s who we are excited to play,” she said.

On April 17 Pima travels to Central Arizona College, which it split twice with. Then on April 20, Pima hosts Eastern Arizona College. The EAC Lady Monsters swept the Aztecs.

Pima closes the season with a road trip to Yavapai on April 27. Despite the recent domination by Pima and Yavapai, Central is the ACCAC traditional power, with 12 national championships since 1984.

“When you play in this league there’s no soft touches,” Quiroz said. “It’s brutal for everybody, it’s brutal for our opponents.”

The top four teams in the division make it to the playoffs hosted by the top seed. After Yavapai (20-4 ACCAC) and PCC, Central (15-9) is third and Western (16-10) is fourth.

“It’s a season of ups and downs and hopefully we are on the way up again but 47-7 is nothing to sneeze at,” Quiroz said. “The league is so tough that you can’t run and hide from anybody, no matter how good your record is.”

Last year Yavapai narrowly won the league’s only Nationals bid at home against Pima before a wild crowd. The average high for Tucson on May 7 is 17 degrees hotter than Prescott.

“That’s all we’re playing for,” Quiroz said about home field advantage. “It doesn’t assure you of anything, but it sure gives you an advantage.”

On April 3, the Aztecs split with Glendale Community College, but the games were non-conference. Saturday afternoon. Pima won the first, 5-2 and lost the second 9-4.

Jordan Trujillo earned the win in the first game, striking out seven and giving up five hits and freshman Adrianna Garcia (16-4) lost the second.

Sophomore catcher Melina Trujillo, went 5-7 in the doubleheader, driving in three RBIs. Freshman first baseman Charissa Ballesteros went 3-6, including two doubles, two runs and three RBIs.

Protégés of successful coaches are said to be part of their coaching tree, but for some people it is much more.

Pima Community College softball head coach Armando Quiroz’s coaching tree also includes part of his family tree. Quiroz’s daughter Rebekah is an assistant coach for the Aztecs.

“It’s awesome, it’s a great experience,” Armando Quiroz said. “I’m very, very lucky, very fortunate. That’s a dad’s dream and a coach’s dream.”

Rebekah Quiroz said coaching with her father is a great experience that helps out her individual coaching.

“It’s amazing,” Rebekah Quiroz said. “It’s good that I’ve grown up a lot as a coach, because I have already played for him, if that makes sense.”

This year is the third year they have been coaching together.

“It’s exactly what I expected because I know how competitive she is,” Armando Quiroz said. “She’s a very competitive player and that never changes. I like the fire.”

Rebekah Quiroz coaches the speed players, a role she used to play on the diamond.

“I do the slapping; we call it the short game. I work with the middle infield and their conditioning, their speed work basically,” Rebekah Quiroz said.

As of April 4, Pima was ranked No. 5 in the nation in batting average, hitting .398. Sophomore outfielder Chelsea Slama is batting .438.

“I wouldn’t be hitting the way I am now if it wasn’t for Rebekah,” Slama said after hitting two inside-the-park home runs on March 21.

Sophomore shortstop Kaity Ingram is second in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference in triples and runs, with seven and 53, and learned from the former Aztec.

Rebekah Quiroz played for Pima in 2003. She led the country in hitting and was an All-American. That was before her father became the head coach.

“The expectations are always the same,” Rebekah said. “We think the same. It’s not hard, because we are always on the same level.”

After leaving Pima, Rebekah Quiroz played for the University of Arizona and for Tucson’s professional softball team, the Arizona Heat.

“She was an outstanding player and she’s an outstanding coach. It’s just a carryover, I wish I could put her in the lineup every once in a while,” Armando Quiroz said. “She’s a winner, she wants to win and she knows how to win.”

Rebekah Quiroz started coaching at Pima in 2005-06 as an assistant for its previous head coach, Stacy Iveson. When Iveson left for Yavapai College, Armando Quiroz was hired.

“I knew her résumé since she was a baby,” Armando said, laughing, when asked if he gave her resume a thorough check. “We were lucky to keep her.”

Rebekah and Armando Quiroz

After Armando was hired, the Aztecs went 38-14-1 in 2008 and 52-17 in 2009.

“They’re fantastic,” Slama said. “Coach rides us, but just because he cares, because he is a good coach. I don’t think we would have the charisma and the strength to push it through —16 games in one week—without Coach on us like that.”

Rebekah Quiroz also played for her father when she was in high school and the duo formed a successful partnership.

“As a player in high school, we won two state championships. Her junior and senior year, we were state champions at Flowing Wells High School,” Armando Quiroz said. “So that was like a dream come true.”

In addition to the back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000, Armando won a state championship in 2002. It would be his final with the Caballeros.

In 2005, he left Flowing Wells to coach Eastern New Mexico University. He coached for two years before leaving for Pima.

Armando Quiroz said mutual respect doesn’t always equal agreement.

“Even though we think alike a lot, we also disagree and I respect everything she says,” Armando Quiroz said. “She’ll come and say ‘let’s do this’ and I listen to her because she is a fantastic ball player. We don’t always agree, but we have a respect for each other.”

The Quiroz duo believes their connection helps them recruit and helps better the program.

“I think if we recruit as a family, we get that family atmosphere,” Rebekah Quiroz said. “That is huge if we know that I can coach with my dad, be on the same field with him. We’re recruiting that kind of atmosphere here at Pima. That’s what we want.”

Armando Quiroz agreed that it is beneficial for Pima.

“We go out to tournaments and we recruit together,” Armando Quiroz said. “Everybody in town knows who she is.”

Next up for the father-daughter combo: introducing themselves to the softball nation as they try to win Pima’s first national championship since 2006.