Cochise Women’s Basketball season comes to an end in 2nd round of NJCAA tourney
CASPER, WY. — The 16th-seeded Cochise Apaches faced the 1-seeded Hutchinson Blue Dragons yesterday afternoon for the rights to advance to the national quarterfinal in the NJCAA Tournament. Cochise and head coach Misty Opat knew what they were up against and were determined to give the undefeated Dragons a run for their money at the Ford Wyoming Center. Cochise opened up to a lead at the end of the 1st quarter, leading Hutchinson 12-10, led by a strong opening performance from sophomore guard Clara Gonzalez who sunk two 3-point shots in the first.
The Apaches continued their strong start as they went into halftime with a 31-27 over the No. 1 team in the country. It was the third quarter where Hutchinson began to fight back, outscoring the Apaches 17-10 and dominating the boards as well as they outrebounded Cochise 7-3 in the third quarter. A back-and-forth fourth quarter ultimately finished with Hutchinson remaining undefeated, as they ran away with the win in the final minutes 59-54. The Blue Dragons advanced, but not without a scare from Cochise who refused to go down without a fight.
Sophomores Ali Hardwell and Clara Gonzalez led Cochise in their final game scoring 17 and 16 points respectively. Fortuna Ngnawo went only 3 for 12 in the game, scoring 7 points in her final game as an Apache. Another outgoing sophomore, Alexis Reese came off of the bench scoring 8 points and collecting 6 rebounds.
Cochise Women’s Basketball finishes their 2023-2024 season with a 26-8 overall record and 18-5 conference record, along with a Region 1 Championship title.
Read MoreApaches win sixth straight game with sweep over Phoenix College on the road
PHOENIX, Ariz. — Cochise Baseball was on the road yesterday afternoon visiting the Phoenix College Bears for a doubleheader at Marich Field in Phoenix, AZ. The Apaches were coming off of a home doubleheader sweep of Scottsdale Community College, while Phoenix College was trying to bounce back after being swept by Central Arizona last week.
Game 1 (10 innings): Cochise 7, Phoenix 2
In Game 1, the Apaches took down the Bears 7-2 in which they pulled away in extra innings in the top half of the tenth inning. Cochise scored five runs in the tenth to put Phoenix away for good led by a sacrifice fly from Mathis Meurant. Sophomore lefthanded pitcher Tyson Noel opened the game giving up three hits and two runs over two innings, striking out one and walking one. Alex Figueroa and Eduardo Torres each threw in relief for Noel keeping the Bears scoreless in eight innings of work. The Apaches amassed 14 hits in the game led by Francisco Laya with two RBI’s going 2 for 5. Muerant went 4 for 5 at the plate. Pablo Garcia, Richard Gutierrez, and Ruben Villaescusa each collected multiple hits for Cochise.
Game 2: Cochise 4, Phoenix 3
Phoenix struck first in Game 2 scoring two runs in the third inning off of starting pitcher freshman Mathis Nayral. The Apaches answered right back in the fourth scoring two of their own and two more runs in the sixth to take a commanding lead. The Bears responded with another run in their final at-bat of the game, but came up short when freshman reliever Alejandro Vanegas came in to shut the door. Nayral allowed one hit and two runs over five innings, striking out seven and walking two. Sophomores Kieran Gaffney and Mathis Meurant each collected two hits for Cochise.
Up Next..
Cochise Baseball (26-14,13-9) has won six straight games and will be back at Bo Hall Field on Saturday, March 30th hosting Paradise Valley College (18-18,8-14) for a doubleheader beginning at noon.
Read MoreApaches roll past Chatt State 72-49 to advance to 2nd round of NJCAA Tournament
CASPER, WY — The Cochise Women’s Basketball team opened up the 2024 NJCAA Tournament this morning at the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyoming. The 16th-seeded Apaches took on the 17th-seeded Chattanooga State Tigers from Chattanooga, Tenessee in the first round of the tournament in which Cochise rolled past CSCC 72-49. Fortuna Ngnawo scored her 1000th career point for Cochise College in the opening minutes of the game and collected her 700th rebound in the 2nd quarter. Chatt State could not find an answer to Cochise’s suffocating defense and failed to close the gap at any point of the game. The win moves Cochise Women’s Basketball to the 2nd round of the NJCAA Tournament and will face the 1-seeded Hutchinson Community College Dragons on Wednesday, March 27th at 1:30 pm. Each game of the tournament is broadcast live on ESPN+.
Read MoreApaches win fourth straight after sweeping Scottsdale doubleheader
DOUGLAS, Ariz. — The Cochise Baseball team won its fourth straight after sweeping their home doubleheader against the visiting Scottsdale Community College Fighting Artichokes on Saturday afternoon. Last week, Cochise welcomed Langley Blaze Baseball out of Langley, British Columbia, Canada, and won both games 11-1 and 8-1 respectively. Scottsdale visited Bo Hall Field after being swept at home by Central Arizona College.
Game 1 (6 Innings): Cochise 12, Scottsdale 2
In Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader, Cochise collected 12 runs off of 14 hits in a 10-run rule route of the Artichokes. Sophomore Pablo Garcia drove in four runs of his own on two hits including a grand slam in the fourth inning. The big fourth inning began with a Mathis Meurant ground out scoring one run, a Ruben Villaescusa single scoring another, and a Kenneth Rhein sacrifice fly scoring the third. The Garcia grand slam to left broke the game open for Cochise, which eventually ended in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Freshman pitcher Sam Pitts started on the mound for Cochise, surrendering four hits and two runs over six innings, striking out five and walking one. Kieran Gaffney led the Apaches with three hits in four at-bats. Rhein, Villaescusa, George Hogan, and Hadley Smith each collected multiple hits.
Game 2: Cochise 8, Scottsdale 6
In Game 2, Mathis Meurant led the way with three hits in five at-bats, as Cochise defeated Scottsdale 8-6 in nine innings. Meurant hit his fourth home run of the season in the fifth inning and added a double in the sixth, and a single in the fourth. The Apaches managed to build a six-run lead in the sixth inning, but the gap was closed when Scottsdale put together a four-run seventh inning off of Apache reliever Alex Figueroa. Freshman reliever Olmedo Quezada came in relief for Figueroa, and Sophomore Tyson Noel made a rare relief appearance to shut the door on SCC in the ninth. Freshman Ramses Guerra started on the mound for Cochise only lasting one inning and was relieved by Alejandro Vanegas. The Apaches collected nine hits in Game 2, Mason Wray and George Hogan each went 2 for 4.
Up Next..
Cochise Baseball (24-14, 11-9) will head back on the road on Tuesday, March 26th to take on Phoenix College (15-18-1,8-12) for a noon doubleheader, and will host Paradise Valley (18-16,8-12) on Saturday, March 30th at Bo Hall field for another doubleheader at noon.
Read MoreApaches win fourth straight after sweeping Scottsdale doubleheader
DOUGLAS, Ariz. — The Cochise Baseball team won its fourth straight after sweeping their home doubleheader against the visiting Scottsdale Community College Fighting Artichokes on Saturday afternoon. Last week, Cochise welcomed Langley Blaze Baseball out of Langley, British Columbia, Canada, and won both games 11-1 and 8-1 respectively. Scottsdale visited Bo Hall Field after being swept at home by Central Arizona College.
Game 1 (6 Innings): Cochise 12, Scottsdale 2
In Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader, Cochise collected 12 runs off of 14 hits in a 10-run rule route of the Artichokes. Sophomore Pablo Garcia drove in four runs of his own on two hits including a grand slam in the fourth inning. The big fourth inning began with a Mathis Meurant ground out scoring one run, a Ruben Villaescusa single scoring another, and a Kenneth Rhein sacrifice fly scoring the third. The Garcia grand slam to left broke the game open for Cochise, which eventually ended in the bottom half of the sixth inning. Freshman pitcher Sam Pitts started on the mound for Cochise, surrendering four hits and two runs over six innings, striking out five and walking one. Kieran Gaffney led the Apaches with three hits in four at-bats. Rhein, Villaescusa, George Hogan, and Hadley Smith each collected multiple hits.
Game 2: Cochise 8, Scottsdale 6
In Game 2, Mathis Meurant led the way with three hits in five at-bats, as Cochise defeated Scottsdale 8-6 in nine innings. Meurant hit his fourth home run of the season in the fifth inning and added a double in the sixth, and a single in the fourth. The Apaches managed to build a six-run lead in the sixth inning, but the gap was closed when Scottsdale put together a four-run seventh inning off of Apache reliever Alex Figueroa. Freshman reliever Olmedo Quezada came in relief for Figueroa, and Sophomore Tyson Noel made a rare relief appearance to shut the door on SCC in the ninth. Freshman Ramses Guerra started on the mound for Cochise only lasting one inning and was relieved by Alejandro Vanegas. The Apaches collected nine hits in Game 2, Mason Wray and George Hogan each went 2 for 4.
Up Next..
Cochise Baseball (24-14, 11-9) will head back on the road on Tuesday, March 26th to take on Phoenix College (15-18-1,8-12) for a noon doubleheader, and will host Paradise Valley (18-16,8-12) on Saturday, March 30th at Bo Hall field for another doubleheader at noon.
Read MoreCommunity Health Fairs Photo Gallery (Google Photos)
March 20 at the Douglas Campus
March 21 at the Sierra Vista Campus
Community Health Fairs Photo Gallery (Google Photos)
Read MoreCochise College hosts an Expo on April 19
In Sierra Vista, Cochise College is set to open its doors to the public for its annual Expo and Open House. Scheduled for Friday, April 19, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., the free public event is a family-friendly atmosphere filled with interactive activities and learning opportunities at the college’s Sierra Vista Campus, located at 901 North Colombo Ave.
This year’s Expo will have 50 interactive activities designed to entertain and educate attendees of all ages. Highlights include cutting-edge virtual reality and simulators, hands-on photo and video equipment demonstrations, and an insight into the history of the Strong Oak Historical Games, featuring participants in full costume. Attendees can also look forward to a tire-changing station with automotive technology and lively DJ Music by Black Crown Entertainment.
Robyn Martin, the assistant dean of marketing at Cochise College and the event’s organizer, emphasizes the Expo’s role in bridging the gap between the community and the college’s programs. “This is an opportunity for students and their families to meet with staff and learn about applying to the college, available scholarships, financial aid options, and the vibrant student life on campus,” Martin said.
The event is not just about fun and games; it also serves as an invaluable resource for individuals interested in furthering their education. “The educational component of the Expo is a chance to explore what the college offers firsthand. It’s a great way to learn about the degrees, certificates, and other opportunities available to students and the community,” Martin added.
Visitors are encouraged to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy the spring weather on the beautiful campus grounds. Admission to the Expo is free.
For more details about the Expo, visit www.cochise.edu/expo.
Read MoreCochise splits home doubleheader with South Mountain
DOUGLAS, Ariz. — Cochise Baseball hosted ACCAC Division 1 foe South Mountain Community College on Saturday afternoon which resulted in a doubleheader split after an 11-inning Game 2.
Game 1: Cochise 8, South Mountain 6
In Game 1, Cochise clawed back after a 6-1 deficit to take down SMCC 8-6. The Apaches took the lead in the bottom of the third inning, but the Cougars responded with six runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-1 lead. Cochise rallied right back scoring five more runs in the bottom half of the fifth to tie the the game. Cochise third-baseman Kenneth Rhein hit a 2-run go-ahead home run to give the Apaches the lead in the sixth. Freshman lefthander Sam Pitts opened the game for Cochise, surrendering four hits and four runs over four and one-third innings, striking out one and walking none. Olmedo Quezada tossed two innings of scoreless baseball in relief. In total, Cochise collected ten hits led by Hadley Smith, Mathis Meurant, Francisco Laya, and Rhein who each had multiple hits.
Game 2 (11 Innings): Cochise 3, South Mountain 5
In Game 2, it took extra innings for South Mountain to bounce back and steal a game from Cochise on their home field. The game was tied at three in the top of the eleventh inning when SMCC took the lead with a two-run home run off reliever Quezada. Cochise lost despite out-hitting South Mountain 8-7. Sophomore catcher Mason Wray and outfielder Ruben Villaeascusa each collected two hits for the Apaches. Ramses Guerra opened the game for Cochise giving up three hits and two runs over six innings, striking out seven and walking three.
Up Next…
Cochise Baseball (20-12,9-7) heads on the road to Chandler, AZ to take on Chandler-Gilbert Community College (18-10,8-8) on Tuesday, March 19th for a doubleheader at noon, and will host Langley Blaze out of Langley, British Columbia, Canada on Thursday, March 21st and Scottsdale Community College (14-14,6-10) on Saturday, March 23rd each four doubleheaders at noon.
Read MoreCochise Women’s Rodeo wins third straight, Men’s team takes 3rd in Fort Huachuca
FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. — The Cochise College Rodeo team hosted their annual two-day Rodeo event at Wren Arena in Fort Huachuca this weekend. The Cochise Women’s Rodeo team won their 3rd straight, while the men’s team finished 3rd place overall. The final results are posted below courtesy of the Cochise College Rodeo Program Facebook page:
Goat Tying
Cochise Baseball splits double header with Gateway
Douglas, Ariz. — The Cochise Baseball team was back at home after a couple of road trips, including a road sweep of Glendale Community College last weekend. The Apaches welcomed visiting Gateway Community College on Saturday afternoon for a double header at Bo Hall Field. The Geckos were coming off of a split in which they upset Central Arizona College, who at the time, was ranked #6 in the country for Division 1.
Game 1: Cochise 9, Gateway 1
In Game 1 of the double header, it was all Cochise as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the third inning. The Apaches added two more runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, and three more runs in the sixth to secure a 9-1 route of Gateway. Sophomore infielder Mathis Meurant led the way for Cochise collecting 3 hits with and RBI. Freshmen standouts Richard Gutierrez and Kenneth Rhein also collected multiple hits for the Apaches. Sam Pitts earned the start on the mound for Cochise, pitching 6 and two-thirds innings, surrendering 1 run off of 7 Gateway hits, with 8 strikeouts and 2 walks. Olmedo Quezada made a relief appearance, shutting the door by getting the last out of the first game.
Game 2: Cochise 6, Gateway 7 (10 Innings)
It took extra innings to decided Game 2 at Bo Hall Field, as the Cochise Apaches attempted to come back from a 5-run deficit early on in the game. Gateway came back strong scoring three runs in the top half of the fourth inning off of sophomore reliever Alex Figueroa, who came in for starter Ramses Guerra. The Geckos scored two more in the seventh to take a 5-0 lead over Cochise. The Apaches refused to give up, scoring six runs in the bottom of the seventh to overtake Gateway. The Geckos scored the tying run in the ninth off of Alejandro Vanegas to take the game into extra innings. Gateway scored another run in the tenth inning to eventually take the Game 2 win over Cochise, good enough for a double header split. Sophomore catcher Mason Wray managed to collect three hits in Game 2, while Meurant collected 2 more hits for the Apaches, along with Ruben Villaescusa who had two hits of his own. Kieran Gaffney also had one hit with 2 RBI’s.
Up Next…
Cochise Baseball (18-10,8-6) will host Community Christian College (5-6) for a double header on Wednesday, March 13th at noon, and will host South Mountain Community College (12-15,6-8) on Saturday, March 16th for another noon double header.
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