Sports – Page 9 – Pima Post

Aztecs Start Season Hot, Take Three of Four From Ranked Opponent

19Feb

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Sports

Aztecs Start Season Hot, Take Three of Four From Ranked Opponent

Photos by Raymond Suarez By Nate Martinez After a series of postponed games, Pima Community College baseball was finally able to kick off the delayed 2021 season. They took on the number 20 ranked College of Southern Nevada Coyotes in back-to-back doubleheaders last Friday and Saturday. February 12 (Game 1): Aztecs 8, Coyotes 9 In a very rocky start for the Aztecs, Pima found themselves in the hole 9-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning in game one of their first double header. Freshman pitcher Wilson Bannister gave up four runs in the first inning of his first start of the season. He was taken out in the top of the 5th after allowing a home run and nine runs in 4.1 innings.. Freshman pitcher Darius Garcia finished the game, striking out three and giving up no runs on one hit. ...

Pima student athletes given new life after lost season

17Dec

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Sports

Pima student athletes given new life after lost season

By Nate Martinez By now, one would have to be living under a rock to not know that COVID-19 really hindered college athletics. Many student athletes in the United States had their seasons cut drastically short thanks to the virus. For some, this is heartbreaking, but they can look forward to another chance to play next season. For others, this may have been the last year of eligibility to make one more run at a potential championship. Things seemed to have hit an all time low for student athletes across the United States until a recent decision by the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association). On October 22, the NJCAA decided that the 2020-2021 year of eligibility would not count towards student athlete eligibility. This basically means that athletes who were to compete, or h...

8Dec

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Sports

The NBA tests positive

Photo by Keith Allison By Kyler Van Vliet Last week, the NBA stated that 48 players have tested positive for COVID-19. With the season coming to a start later in December, the NBA tested 546 of its players between Nov. 24 and 30 after players returned to their respective team markets. 9% of the players tested positive. However, in the league’s preseason guidance to teams sent late last week, they made it clear that some positive test results were to be expected. Any player with a confirmed positive test is isolated until cleared by rules established by the league and National Basketball Players Association, in accordance with CDC guidance. The league's health and safety protocols for this season say that anyone with a positive test in this ‘pre-camp phase’, “must receive medical clear...

24Nov

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Sports

Making sense of the Suns draft

Photo by Alexander Jonesi By Kyler Van Vliet The 2020 NBA draft has come and gone. Besides the league consensus top three picks in Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman and LaMelo Ball, there were no other standout draftees, thus leaving teams uneasy in who to draft. Many drafted simply based off of player interviews, such as the Chicago Bulls picking college benchman Patrick Williams at pick 4. The Phoenix Suns were one of many teams that left fans confused based off their first round draft pick, drafting big man Jalen Smith from Maryland. Smith, 20, played two seasons for the Terrapins, averaging 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. I too was confused by the pick as I was certain they would draft a guard like Kira Lewis who would have been a great scorer off the bench and cou...

Before the sun sets on his career, Chris Paul will try to elevate Phoenix

21Nov

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

News, Sports

Before the sun sets on his career, Chris Paul will try to elevate Phoenix

Photo by Tim Shelby By: Kyler Van Vliet With the NBA off-season shortened up to fit the altered 2021 season timeline, the trade moratorium was lifted this Monday on November 16. Many teams were quick to jump all in and start flipping assets in order to elevate their teams, and the Phoenix Suns were not late to the ball. The Suns traded for the Hall of Fame point guard Chris Paul. The trade consisted of the Suns sending Ricky Rubio, Kelly Oubre Jr., two other young players and a future first-round pick to the rebuilding Oklahoma City Thunder. After reestablishing himself as one of the best point guards in the league this past season it was no surprise that his former team, the Thunder, were going to capitalize on other team’s desire to acquire Paul via trade. Before the moratorium wa...

Q&A with Los Angeles Charges wide receiver and Pima alum Jeff Cotton

15Nov

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Features, Sports

Q&A with Los Angeles Charges wide receiver and Pima alum Jeff Cotton

Photo by Andy Morales (All Sports Tucson) By Troy Hutchison Millions of kids grow up dreaming of playing in the NFL and becoming stars like their favorite players that they see on television. However, chances of achieving this are slim, as according to the NCAA, only 3.8 percent of college football players make it to the next level. Former Mountain View and Pima Community College (PCC) player Jeff Cotton is closer to making that dream a reality as a practice squad player for the Los Angeles Chargers. While at PCC he was coached by current Athletic Director (AD) Jim Monaco from 2015 to 2017 before the football program got shut down in 2018. Cotton then moved on to Idaho for his final two years of college football, where he established himself as a top target racking in 1,141 yards on 137 ...

12Nov

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Sports

Devin Booker wants out of Phoenix?

Photo by Keith Allison By Kyler Van Vliet With the NBA finals coming to a close in October and the 2021 NBA season aiming at a late December start, it leaves fans with a fairly short offseason window to fantasize about unrealistic trade inquisitions and drool over the latest rumors surrounding the league. The latest rumor involvesDevin Booker, shooting guard for the Phoenix Suns.. On November 3rd, Ryen Russillo appeared on the Bill Simmons Podcast and stated that Booker wanted out of Phoenix. “The worst-kept secret in the league is Booker already wants out of there,” said Russillo. But does he really? Booker just came off of his best season with the Suns after ending the season with a record of 34-39 and going 8-0 in the NBA bubble, almost securing them a playoff berth. The Suns thems...

Pima women’s basketball team holds ring ceremony to celebrate championship

15Oct

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Sports

Pima women’s basketball team holds ring ceremony to celebrate championship

By Nate Martinez On October 4, the Pima Community College Women's Basketball team celebrated last season's Division II Region I championship with a ring ceremony. The team got together that Sunday afternoon via zoom call, organized by head coach Todd Holthaus, Athletic Director Jim Monaco and Vice Chancellor Bruce Moses, to reflect on the past season, as well as their accomplishments in their final game. Each player received a box with the ring, nicknamed the “Infinity Stone” by assistant coach Pete Fajardo, as well as a sweater and a team picture. They were instructed not to open until the zoom call. The Aztecs earned this accomplishment by defeating rival school, Mesa Community College by a convincing score of 76-59. The win also marks the first time in the last eight years that the...

PCC names Jim Monaco permanent athletic director

7Oct

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

News, Sports

PCC names Jim Monaco permanent athletic director

By Nate Martinez On Monday, October 5, Pima Community College named Jim Monaco their permanent athletic director. The move comes after Monaco served in an interim capacity since November of 2018. He succeeded Edgar Soto, who was the AD since 2009. Monaco has been active for many years in Pima sports, starting out as an assistant coach for Jeff Scurran. He helped the Arizona Football Hall of Fame coach to a 26-17 overall record between 2000 and 2004 and even made a Bowl game in his last year. He returned to the Aztecs in 2011, working as the Defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator under Pat Nugent until 2013. Monaco was named head coach of the Pima football team following the 2013 season and fulfilled that role until the program was cut to accommodate the school’s budget. ...

The Birds Are Back in Town: Arizona Cardinals Look to Get Back to Winning Ways

13Sep

By Pima Post Editorial TeamNo Comments

Opinion, Sports, Uncategorized

The Birds Are Back in Town: Arizona Cardinals Look to Get Back to Winning Ways

By Nate Martinez It's time to bust out your favorite chips n dip and grab that 30 case of beer on sale because football is back. For many, this feeling is comparable to the feeling of taking your crush on a date for the first time or running downstairs to find Christmas presents; it's just pure innocent excitement! This feeling of excitement doubles if you are an Arizona Cardinals fan. The Bird Gang look to build off an offseason filled with hype and make a run deep into the playoffs. Given the offseason trades, a stellar draft-class, a killer receiving core and a quarterback that has limitless potential, things seem to be looking pretty good for the Cardinals. Before the Cardinals kick off their season against their longtime rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, let’s recap some of the bi...