3 NJCAA All-Americans, 8 All-Region I and/or All-ACCAC honorees highlight ‘NCAA National Signing Day’ list

New-look Matadors head to Silver State for 2-day Coyote Border Battle for regular season opener

Yuma, Arizona – January 26, 2012 -- Arizona Western College is proud to announce that the AWC Baseball team will officially open their 2012 regular season schedule tomorrow morning, Friday, January 27^th, as they take part in the four-team, two-day Coyote Border Battle Baseball Tournament, hosted by the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The Matadors will play four games over the two days, facing the 2011 Western District Runners-up from Salt Lake Community College tomorrow and Saturday, while squaring off against Region XXVIII foes College of Southern Idaho tomorrow night and the host team from the College of Southern Nevada to wind up play Saturday night. 

For the Matadors, taking the field tomorrow signals the beginning of ‘The Drew Keehn Era’ as they’ll begin the regular season with a new Matadors’ Head Baseball Coach for the first time since 1984.  Keehn spent last year as the lead assistant under 27-year head coach John Stratton, and was handed the reins to the program just one day after Stratton announced his retirement last April.  Keehn and his new-look coaching staff have gone to work bringing in fresh talent, and only six players actually return from the 2011 roster.  That includes the ace of last year’s pitching staff, Kahana (kuh-HAH-nuh) Neal, as well as part-time starter Ryan Malmstrom (MAHLM-struhm).  It also includes ’11 Mats’ stolen base leader Hunter Zwart (ZWAHRT), who’s expected to anchor the outfield, as well as 2011 part-time starter (and Kofa High alum) Simon Corea (koh-REE-uh). 

As far as newcomers to the staff are concerned, sophomore transfer Cyle (KYL) Bettis, Kofa High alum Blake Johnston, Mexicali product Angel Olivas and California native Mario Morales should push Neal & Malmstrom for spots in the Matadors’ starting rotation.  In the bullpen, fellow Kofa King Claudio Valencia will take over as the closer, with Utah righty Jake Hewitt, Yuma High alum Francisco Gomez (who may also be the designated hitter) and even converted 2011 backup middle infielder Martin Chacon (mahr-TEEN chuh-KOHN) providing plenty of middle relief.  Keehn’s put a big emphasis on defense during the fall, and his new charges have responded.  The main guy calling pitches and directing the infield from behind the plate could be a couple of guys, since San Luis’s own Benito Garcia has impressed in camp, but has been pushed for the starting job by southern California natives Jacob Dominguez and Nathan Orozco.  The rest of the infield will be completely new, and has been a spirited battle from September on.  When Valencia’s not on the hill, he’ll be at 3^rd base, but after that, the race for the starting middle infield jobs will be decided early in the season between Kofa High alum Hector Valenzuela, San Luis native Antonio Mendoza, Colorado Rockies’ draftee Casey Scott and midyear transfer Oscar Fitch.  On the other corner, the first base job has been a two-man race between Tucsonian Dylan Dyson and midyear transfer Jordan Atkinson.  Moving to the outfield, after Zwart, there’s little margin for error for the five guys that could wind up flanking him:  Corea (who started 18 games for the Mats last year), Las Vegas product Xavier Palmer, southern Californians Juan Avena (uh-VEE-nuh) and Dallas Hessler, and even Aussie import Hayden Calvert.

The Matadors are seeking their first Region I Playoff berth since 2006 as they kick things off tomorrow.  The Mats will face off against 17^th-ranked Salt Lake in single games tomorrow (10AM) and Saturday afternoon (2PM), Southern Idaho tomorrow night at 7PM, and then the hosts from CSN Saturday at 7PM (all times listed are Arizona time).  The Matadors will come home after the tournament and prepare for next weekend’s Caballero Classic, which will be held next Friday and Saturday, February 3^rd & 4^th at Desert Sun Stadium (Avenue A south of 32^nd Street in Yuma).  Fans looking to obtain Caballero Classic schedules and/or 2012 AWC Baseball schedules can get them on the AWC Athletics website (www.azwestern.edu/athletics).

Back-to-back playoff semifinal finishes whet appetite for this season as new season commences on road

Yuma, Arizona – January 26, 2012 -- Arizona Western College is proud to announce that the AWC Softball team will officially open their 2012 regular season schedule tomorrow morning, Friday, January 27th in Las Vegas, Nevada, by taking part in the two-day CSN Softball Kickoff Classic hosted by the College of Southern Nevada.  The Lady Matadors will play five games over the two days of the tournament, starting with North Idaho Community College tomorrow morning at 9AM Arizona time.

Expectations for the Lady Matadors are naturally high, since they’ve yet to finish lower than the semifinal round of the Region I Playoffs in the two years under Nikki Bethurum.  They’ll also bring their entire starting infield from a year ago back for 2012.  Marina Quijano (muh-REE-nuh kee-HAH-noh), Whitney Campagna (kam-PAGG-nuh), Brittany Vanderdrink and Tori Rich were all integral parts of the Lady Matadors’ drive to the 2011 postseason as freshmen, and all return with a full year of starting experience under their belts.  Quijano, Vanderdrink and Rich finished 3, 4 and 5 respectively in hitting for the Lady Matadors in 2011, while Quijano also was the team’s home run leader, and Rich was the only other Lady Matador player (other than recordsetter Jessica Soria) to finish in double figures in steals (16) last season.  Rich may be the team’s most versatile player, since she’ll likely be the opening-day catcher, but also play plenty at first base and in the outfield. 

Those four will have the task of training the new recruits, including Cibola High alum Myliah (mye-LEE-uh) Ramirez, who will be at 1st base when Rich is behind the plate; California natives Savanna Baggett (suh-VAN-nuh BAG-geht) and Abrianna Palacio (AH-bree-AH-nuh pah-LAH-see-oh), who battled it out in preseason camp to take the spot of Rich at catcher for the second game of the doubleheader; Kofa High alum Madison Tracy, who will keep Quijano & Vanderdrink on their toes pushing for a middle infield spot; and sophomore returner Jennifer Duenas (DWAYN-yahs), as well as freshmen Breanna Delgadillo (bree-AH-nuh DEHL-guh-DEE-yoh) and Cibola High alum Alex Roman (roh-MAHN), who all had impressive stints at third base during ‘fall ball’.  Moving to the hill, there wasn’t anyone better last year for the Lady Mats than Amber Taynton, and she returns to be the ace of the staff for her sophomore campaign.  Unlike 2011, Taynton won’t be alone in experience, since fellow sophs Trish Porter and Yesenia Perez return as well.  Pushing them for starting spots are Blythe native Courtnie Ploesch (PLOWSH) and El Centro’s own Megan Lerno (who fans will also come to know as the team’s main source of power at the plate). 
 
That’s where the experience ends, though, since their two-year starting outfield of Soria, Amanda Soedjadi and Marquis Lozoya has graduated, leaving starting spots up for grabs.  That list starts with the lone returner, Taylor Bashor (BA-shur), who saw plenty of time in right field in 2011.  She’ll likely start in right, but has been challenged for that spot by Palacio and fellow southern California native Morgan Paul.  Rich could split time in center field with San Diego native Julia Shrum.  And in left field, Lauren Miranda-who may be the fastest player on the team-has battled throughout the fall with fellow newcomer Ploesch.

The Lady Mats will play three games on Friday, facing off against NIC at 9AM, El Paso Community College at 11:30AM and then Chattanooga Community College from Tennessee at 7PM.  Saturday, the Lady Mats will face a pair of teams that were nationally ranked at the end of last season:  Odessa College from Texas (ranked 16th last May) at 11:30AM, and then winding up play against NJCAA Championship Runnerup Salt Lake Community College at 2PM (all times listed are Arizona time).  The Lady Matadors will come home after the tournament and prepare for next weekend’s Great Western Shootout, which will feature 11 teams from three different time zones for a three-day tournament that will be played at both Joe Henry Park (North 23rd Avenue & West Colorado Street in Yuma (near 1st Street & Avenue B)) and the AWC Softball Field on the main campus (2020 South Avenue 8E in Yuma).  The Lady Mats will play 8 games over the length of the tournament, which happens Thursday through Saturday, February 2nd, 3rd and 4th.  Fans looking to obtain Great Western Shootout schedules and/or 2012 AWC Softball schedules can get them on the AWC Athletics website www.azwestern.edu/athletics

Annual AWC Alumni Baseball game features name change, expected return of MLB stars Molina, Romo

Yuma, Arizona – January 19, 2012 -- Arizona Western College is proud to announce that the 10^th Annual John Stratton AWC Alumni Baseball Game will take place this Saturday afternoon, January 21^st at 1PM at Kammann Field, the Matadors’ home baseball field.  Over 50 past & present players are expected to take part in the event.  The game is a culmination of the 10^th Annual Diamond Classics Weekend, which gives past AWC Baseball Alumni a chance to catch up with old classmates. 

It will be a strange yet wonderful day for this event, since there will be more new-look things about this game than ever before.  First, the game will celebrate its 10^th Anniversary with a name change-and a new head coach manning the home dugout.  This game originated from John Stratton, who helped bring in the alumni to play against his new team for the first 9 years.  Now, after stepping down last April after 27 years at the helm, he’s back today-to coach the Alumni team for the first time.  The idea to rename the game after Stratton was hatched by the man he handed the reins to the program to at the end of last season:  Drew Keehn.  After spending a year as Stratton’s lead assistant, Keehn will bring a new-look 2012 squad to the table on Saturday that features six returning sophomores, and will coach against his former boss from the ’12 Matadors’ dugout. 

The AWC Baseball program’s storied 48-year history began in 1964 under current AWC Assistant Baseball Coach (and former AWC Athletic Director) Jack Watson.  Watson’s 11 years of building the program from scratch was highlighted by winning seasons throughout his tenure before he stepped down as both Matadors’ Baseball Coach and Athletic Director in ’75.  Stratton took over the baseball program in 1984, and built a winning tradition that has seen several Matador players head to major league organizations.  Many former players return each January to the AWC campus to play in the annual event, including:  current San Francisco Giants’ relief pitcher (and 2010 World Series Champion) Sergio Romo; fellow 2010 World Series participant (and past World Series champion) Bengie Molina, who sat out the season as a free agent last year after playing for the Anaheim Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers over the 13 previous seasons; AWC’s first NJCAA All-American (and longtime Detroit Tigers’ Director of Player Personnel) Glenn Ezell; former Dodger minor leaguer Gary Pullins, who coached baseball at Brigham Young University for over 20 years and was recently inducted into the BYU Athletic Hall of Fame; current Dixie College president Bob Huddleston; former Orioles’ minor leaguer Brad Drysdale and former Royals’ minor leaguer (and Kofa High alum) Bryan Casey; and current minor league prospects Michael Jones (Braves) and Stephen Smith (Dodgers). 

Many listed above have already confirmed their appearances for this weekend, which begins at the batting cage at 11:15AM Saturday morning with alumni batting practice at Kammann Field.  Fans are welcome to come enjoy the festivities at that time to get autographs and listen to the swapping of old stories, and the media is encouraged to get interviews with players-past and present-at that time.  After that, the fans will get treated to an action-filled afternoon as the Alumni battle the 2012 AWC Matadors’ baseball team in the 10^th Annual John Stratton AWC Alumni Baseball Game at 1PM.  Admission to the game is absolutely free.  Organizers are asking the media to get the word out about the game so that local alumni who might not have had the chance to get involved in the past can get into the mix for 2011 and beyond.  Those looking to get involved can call Drew Keehn at (928) 344-7538 for more information.  Fans can log onto the Alumni Baseball Game page on the AWC Athletics website:  http://www.azwestern.edu/student_services/athletics/alumnibaseballgame.html. 

Sophomore forward/center averages ‘double-double’ to become Mats’ 1^st POW recipient for 2011-12

Yuma, Arizona – January 17, 2012 -- Arizona Western College is proud to announce that AWC Men’s Basketball player Renan Lenz (heh-NAHN lenss) has been named the ACCAC Division I Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending January 14^th.  It’s the first time this season that a Matador Men’s Basketball team has won the award, and it’s the second time that Lenz has won the award during his two years as a Matador.  The announcement comes three days after Lenz and the Matadors fell to 10^th-ranked South Mountain Community College, 58-56, in a thrilling ACCAC Men’s Basketball game Saturday night at ‘The House’ on the AWC campus.

Lenz has been the focus of many an opposing defense since he first arrived on the AWC campus in the summer of 2010.  However, over the last few weeks, AWC Men’s Head Basketball Coach Charles Harral has challenged his sophomore forward/center to be more aggressive in his play.  Lenz certainly responded to the challenge in the Matadors’ two games this past week.  First, Lenz helped the Matadors finish off a string of five consecutive conference road games on an up note in the Phoenix area.  The Matadors got a strong test from Chandler-Gilbert Community College-especially when the Coyotes cut a 13-point halftime deficit to just one midway through the 2^nd half.  Lenz, though, helped keep the Coyotes from ever taking the lead in the 2^nd half.  His impressive work underneath with hook shots and aggressive moves to the hoop on offense-as well as 3 blocked shots to go along with 13 rebounds on defense-were key elements in the Matadors’ 72-57 win.  Saturday night, the Matadors returned to the friendly confines of ‘The House’ for a challenging test against South Mountain.  Despite the fact that the Cougars continually changed defenses mostly to take away the interior presence of the Matadors, Lenz stayed steady, including making a couple of hoops down the stretch when the Matadors were battling back from behind.  Lenz posted his third straight ‘double-double’ by the end of the night, racking up 10 points to go along with 11 rebounds (and 4 more blocked shots).  For the week, the native of Santo Angelo, Brazil, averaged 15.5 points, 12 rebounds and 3.5 blocks.  For the season, ‘The Renan Factor’ is easily the ACCAC Leader in blocked shots (2.4 per game) and is now 3^rd in the league in rebounds (9.3 per contest).  He’s also raised his scoring average to 13.3 points per game (3^rd-best on the team).

Lenz and the Matadors will continue their current 3-game homestand with a pair of home games this week.  The Matadors will host the Pima Aztecs tomorrow night, January 18^th on 1^st Bank Yuma Night, before winding up the home this Saturday night, January 21^st, as they host the Glendale Gauchos.  Both games are 7:30PM starts that will be the second half of the men’s-women’s basketball doubleheader each night, with the 12^th-ranked AWC Lady Matadors tipping the evening off at 5:30PM at ‘The House’ (2020 South Avenue 8E in Yuma).  Admission prices are as follows:  $5 admission for adults, $3 for military personnel (with valid military ID), seniors and students ages 12-17, and free for AWC students, NAU-Yuma students, Matador Athletic Association members and kids under the age of 12.

Team rises seven spots in new poll to reach highest national ranking of season to date

Colorado Springs, CO  (January 11, 2012) – Arizona Western College’s Jolie Olingende (JOH-lee OH-linn-GEHN-day) has been named the NJCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for the week ending January 7^th.  

Sophomore forward/center leads Lady Matadors to 3 wins in 1^st week back from holiday break

Yuma, Arizona – January 10, 2012 -- Arizona Western College is proud to announce that for the second time this season, AWC Women’s Basketball player Jolie Olingende (JOH-lee OH-lihn-GEHN-day) has been named the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Division I Player of the Week for the week ending January 7^th.  The announcement comes just three days after Olingende helped lead the Lady Matadors to a 67-38 victory over Cochise College in the team’s first conference game after the holiday break Saturday in Douglas.

With over three weeks in between games, Olingende could’ve been forgiven for showing some rust in her first week back, but the native of Kinshasa, Congo, Africa, refused to show any weaknesses to the opposition in the Lady Mats’ three wins this week.  Tuesday night, Olingende took the floor with her team to face off against defending NJCAA Division III Champion Anoka-Ramsey Community College in the first night of the Wells Fargo Classic-presented by Wells Fargo Bank.  Olingende led a balanced effort that gradually beat down the Lady Golden Rams and run away with the 80-47 win in the 2^nd half.  Olingende was one of four different players in double figures with 12 points while adding 9 rebounds, 3 assists and a blocked shot.  24 hours later, Olingende helped the Lady Mats finish off the Classic with a convincing 65-53 victory over Homenetmen ARARAT as she posted a ‘double-double’ of 14 points and 12 boards.  The Lady Matadors then hopped on the bus to travel seven hours away from Yuma for Saturday’s first conference matchup of the new year against Cochise College.  The Lady Mats expected an offensive punch from the Lady Apaches-that is, until Olingende and the stifling AWC defense took control of the game midway through the first half.  Olingende’s interior defense and quick hands on the perimeter helped force several steals and limited Cochise to just 18 first-half points.  Conversely, Olingende herself scored 10 points in each half to go along with another 12-rebound performance.  For the week, ‘Jolie Olie’ averaged a ‘double-double’ with over 15 points and exactly 11 boards per contest.  For the season, Olingende is 7^th in the ACCAC in scoring (14.8 points per game), and has taken over the conference lead in rebounds at 10.6 per contest.  She’s also tied for 4^th in the league in field goal percentage (54%).

The Lady Matadors now get ready to finish out this five-game conference road swing tomorrow night as they head back to the Phoenix area to take on the Lady Coyotes of Chandler-Gilbert Community College to lead off the men’s-women’s basketball doubleheader.  The Lady Matadors will go for their 15^th win in the last 16 games as they tip off the doubleheader at 5:30PM, with the Matadors’ Men’s Basketball team to follow at 7:30PM.  The Matadors will then come home to kick off a 3-game homestand this Saturday night, January 14^th against South Mountain Community College on Pilkington Commercial Night at ‘The House’ on the AWC campus (2020 South Avenue 8E in Yuma).  Admission prices are as follows:  $5 admission for adults, $3 for military personnel (with valid military ID), seniors and students ages 12-17, and free for AWC students, NAU-Yuma students, Matador Athletic Association members and kids under the age of 12.

Matadors’ top TE signs with Arizona State; starting CB heads to South Florida

Yuma, Arizona – January 2, 2012 -- Arizona Western College is proud to announce that two members of the AWC Football team have officially signed letters of intent to attend school and play football for 4-year universities this coming fall.  Cornerback Josh Brown has signed with the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, while tight end Darwin Rogers is bound for Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.  The announcements helped begin the NCAA’s Midyear JC Transfer Signing Period, and come a month after the players helped lead the Mats to the 2011 NJCAA National Championship Game at the 2011 El Toro Bowl-presented by Time Warner Cable-at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Yuma.

For Josh Brown, it is validation for a very solid single season in a Matador uniform that he spent much of the season covering Matador opponents’ top receivers.  Brown-a native of Lancaster, Texas-decided to stay home for his freshman year of college, playing for Trinity Valley Community College.  Brown played seven games for the Cardinals in 2009, amassing 14 overall tackles and 1 tackle for loss.  Brown transferred to AWC in time to join the Matadors for spring drills this past January, and entered preseason drills this past August battling for one of the four open spots in the defensive secondary.  Brown worked hard to impress the coaching staff, and when the Matadors took the field to start the season in El Paso, Texas, against Monterrey Tech, Brown was one of the two starting cornerbacks.  Brown, Nate Willis and Tony Grimes spent much of the season complimenting each other at the corner spots, and Brown wound up playing in all 12 games this season for the Matadors, starting seven of them.  Brown finished with 21 overall tackles (11 solo), 1 tackle for loss, and he picked up an interception in the Matadors’ home opener September 10^th against Mesa that set up a Matador touchdown.  Brown now heads to a Bulls’ program that won the 2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl last year and went 5-7 this season.

Meanwhile, Darwin Rogers didn’t get the chance to participate in a bowl game during his Matador career, but he was an integral reason why the Matadors got there.  A transfer from the University of Illinois, Rogers walked in knowing that he’d have a good chance to start at the wide-open tight end position (with no returners from 2010) if he did what he was supposed to do in preseason drills.  Rogers worked hard and was the opening-day starter at that position.  The native of Chicago made his presence known to fans early in the season, making his first reception as a Matador a 19-yard TD catch in the home opener September 10^th.  While it would be his only catch of the season, Rogers was a big part of the Matadors’ blocking schemes and rushing success in 2011, and started all 11 regular season games for the Matadors until suffering a season-ending ankle injury in the regular season finale.  Rogers now heads to a Sun Devils’ program that just played in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas two weeks ago, and he’s expected to vie for the starting tight end job with the Sun Devils under new head coach Todd Graham.