Avila has four RBIs and Roberts throws five shutout innings as Baseball sweeps 2024 opener vs. Paradise Valley CC

The Pima Community College baseball team (2-0) opened the 2024 season on Friday at the West Campus Aztec Baseball Field against Paradise Valley Community College (0-2).
The Aztecs outscored the Pumas 12-3 for the day. Sophomore Antonio Avila finished the day going 4 for 7 with four RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Fellow sophomore David Shackelford was also 4 for 7 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Sophomore Ruben Castro (Tucson Magnet HS) also had four hits on the day (4 for 6) with an RBI and two runs. Sophomore J.T. Drake and freshman Maclain Roberts picked up the wins on the mound.

• Game 1: Pima CC Aztecs 6, Paradise Valley CC Pumas 3: The Aztecs rallied with four runs in the 4^th inning and two in the 6^th to win it.
  Down 2-0, the Aztecs took the lead in the 4^th inning. Castro hit a sacrifice-fly RBI to score Shackelford. Sophomore Caleb Herd (Cienega HS) tied the game at 2-2 with an RBI single to plate sophomore Jontae Hennesy (Horizon HS). Two batters later, Avila drove a single to score freshman Chase Cummings and sophomore Benji Cazares (Tucson Magnet HS).
  Avila stepped up again for some insurance in the 6^th inning as he hit a two-run RBI triple to bring in Castro and sophomore Elijah Reeves (Marana HS).
  Avila finished 2 for 3 with four RBIs while Shackelford went 2 for 3 with a run. Castro was 1 for 2 with an RBI and a run scored and Herd closed it out going 1 for 3 with an RBI.
  Drake (1-0) picked up the win as he pitched four innings, giving up two runs (two earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

PVCC   0 0 2 0 0 0 1   3  9  2
PCC     0 0 0 4 0 2 x    6  7  1

W – Drake (1-0). 3B: Avila.

• Game 2: Pima CC Aztecs 6, Paradise Valley CC Pumas 0: The Aztecs got four runs in the 3^rd inning while freshman starting pitcher Maclain Roberts threw five shutout innings, giving up one hit with six strikeouts and one walk. Freshman relief pitcher Taylin Oana closed it out throwing four innings, with two hits, four strikeouts and one walk.
  Shackelford and Hennesy hit back-to-back RBI singles to put Pima on the scoreboard in the 3rd inning. Sophomore Brant Kragel capped off the inning with a two-run RBI double scoring them both. Avila and sophomore Nick Arias (Tucson Magnet HS) scored the first two runs in the inning.
  Shackelford added some insurance in the 4^th inning when he hit an RBI single to plate Avila. Freshman Caden Richards hit an RBI single of his own in the 5^th inning to bring around Castro.
  Kragel went 2 for 4 with two RBIs while Shackelford was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run. Avila finished 2 for 4 with two runs and Castro went 3 for 4 with a run. Hennesy and Richards each went 1 for 3.
  The Aztecs were aggressive on the base paths as they finished the game with seven steals.

PVCC   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0   3  0
PCC      0 0 4 1 1 0 0 0 x   6 12  0

W – Roberts (1-0). 2B: Kragel. SB: Avila 3, Shackelford 2, Hall, Cereceres

The Aztecs will play a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday at Paradise Valley Community College. First game starts at 11:00 a.m.