2021 SMCC Softball News

All-ACCAC Outfielder Alexa Key Headed to Gardner-Webb University
All-ACCAC Outfielder Alexa Key Headed to Gardner-Webb University

August 04, 2021

Alexa Key, an All-ACCAC Second Team honoree in the recently competed 2021 season, will continue her intercollegiate softball career at NCAA Division I Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, N.C. The Cougars' everyday centerfielder in 2021, Key finished the season with a .493 batting average, 58 runs, 22 hits, six doubles, four triples, 23 RBIs, 13 walks and a conference-best 38 stolen bases to earn Second Team honors from the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference. 

Thirty-Seven Cougars Named to 2021 NJCAA All-Academic Teams
Thirty-Seven Cougars Named to 2021 NJCAA All-Academic Teams

July 19, 2021

Thirty-seven South Mountain Community College student-athletes received 2021 NJCAA All-Academic Team honors for their performance in the classroom during the 2020-21 academic year. Additionally, four SMCC programs received 2021 NJCAA Academic Team of the Year awards for their team GPA and the four programs tied for the lead or outright led all schools in the NJCAA Region I.

SMCC Softball Standout Mia Stankiewicz Headed to CSUN
SMCC Softball Standout Mia Stankiewicz Headed to CSUN

July 06, 2021

Freshman shortstop Mia Stankiewicz of the nationally-ranked South Mountain Community College softball team will continue her intercollegiate career at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), an NCAA Division I institution that competes in the Big West Conference. Stankiewicz had a sensational 2021 season for the Cougars, earning NJCAA Division II First Team All-American honors after leading the nation in on-base percentage (.650) and slugging percentage (1.264). 

Photo by Edwin Rodriguez (IG: erodi45/Compbeauty Media)
Mia Stankiewicz Named NJCAA Division II First Team All-American

June 14, 2021

South Mountain Community College softball freshman Mia Stankiewicz received NJCAA Division II First Team All-American honors, the NJCAA announced on June 11. The Cougars' starting shortstop, Stankiewicz capped off an outstanding season for SMCC with the prestigious honors. 

Photo by Edwin Rodriguez (IG: erodi45/Compbeauty Media)
2021 Softball Year-in-Review

June 09, 2021

The South Mountain Community College softball team enjoyed a stellar 2021 season, highlighted by a national ranking, a return to the postseason and a new program record .675 winning percentage. Led by second-year head coach Brittney Matta, the Cougars finished the year with a 27-13 overall record and 25-9 mark in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference. The Cougars' .735 conference winning percentage also set a new program record, and the 25 league wins tied a school record.

Photo by Andy Slivas
SMCC Softball Finishes Runner-Up at Region I Division II Tournament

May 17, 2021

The South Mountain Community College (27-13) finished as runner-up in the Region I Division II Tournament at Phoenix College on May 13-15. After winning their first game against Chandler-Gilbert CC on May 13, the Cougars fell to Phoenix College 13-0 (5) before defeating the Coyotes 4-1 on May 14 to advance to the Regional Championship. In the event finale, SMCC fell 13-3 to the host Bears despite a home run from freshman Tara Lorona.

Cougars Defeat Coyotes to Open Region I Division II Tournament
Cougars Defeat Coyotes to Open Region I Division II Tournament

May 13, 2021

The South Mountain Community College softball team (26-11) defeated Chandler-Gilbert Community College 5-1 in the opening game of the Region I Division II tournament at Phoenix College on May 13. The Cougars used a two-out rally in the fourth, punctuated by a three-run home run from Mia Stankiewicz, to plate five runs, and Christian Smith tossed a complete game in the circle as SMCC advanced to the winner's bracket game at 1 p.m. on May 14. 

No. 13 SMCC Softball Falls Twice to Phoenix College in Home Finale
No. 13 SMCC Softball Falls Twice to Phoenix College in Home Finale

May 10, 2021

The No. 13 South Mountain Community College softball team (25-11, 25-9 ACCAC) lost twice to No. 1 Phoenix College on Saturday, May 8, in the Cougars' 2021 home finale. Mia Stankiewicz had an RBI double in the first game, but SMCC lost 11-1 in five innings. In the second contest, Alexa Key had a pair of base hits, but the Bears posted a 9-3 victory.

SMCC Softball Collects Multiple All-Conference and All-Region Awards
SMCC Softball Collects Multiple All-Conference and All-Region Awards

May 10, 2021

Four members of the South Mountain Community College softball team received All-ACCAC honors. In addition, three of those Cougars earned NJCAA Region I Division II honors, the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference announced on May 10. Mia Stankiewicz (First Team), Alexa Key (Second Team), Jackie Traughber (Third Team) and Christian Smith (Third Team) secured a spot on the All-ACCAC teams, while Stankiewicz, Traughber and Smith collected All-Region honors. 

Olympic Dreams Set to Become Reality for SMCC Softball Assistant Coach Chelsea Gonzales
Olympic Dreams Set to Become Reality for SMCC Softball Assistant Coach Chelsea Gonzales

May 05, 2021

The Cougar softball gave a strong showing in the Covid-shortened 2020 season and have excelled in 2021. SMCC has sewn up a hosting spot in the NJCAA Region I Division II playoffs and several players are in line for postseason recognition from the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference. However, there is another tournament that has Gonzales and SMCC’s attention: the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Gonzales is a member of Team Mexico, and the sport’s return to the Olympic Games has the Cougars captivated by the chance to watch their assistant coach compete at the highest level.

No. 11 SMCC Softball Wins Twice against Gateway CC
No. 11 SMCC Softball Wins Twice against Gateway CC

May 03, 2021

The No. 11 South Mountain Community College softball team (25-9, 25-7 ACCAC) defeated Gateway Community College 15-0 (5) and 9-1 (5) in an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday, May 1. In the first game, the Cougars scored 13 runs over the first three innings, and Jackie Traughber tossed a two-hit shutout to go with five RBIs, a double and a triple at the plate. In the second game, Jaudrey Ah Quin hit a home run and drove in a season-high five RBIs, and Christian Smith had five strikeouts over five innings of work as the Cougars swept the doubleheader against the Geckos. 

No. 15 Cougars Sweep Doubleheader against Scottsdale CC
No. 15 Cougars Sweep Doubleheader against Scottsdale CC

April 28, 2021

The No. 15 South Mountain Community College (23-9, 23-7 ACCAC) defeated Scottsdale Community College 9-1 (5) and 12-1 (5) in an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader on April 27. In the first game, Mia Stankiewicz scored three runs and had two RBIs, Christian Smith had a key two-run double and Tara Lorona hit an RBI triple. In the second game, the Cougars smashed 14 singles, and Stankiewicz hit her second double of the day as SMCC swept the Fighting Artichokes. 

Photo by Andy Silvas
No. 15 SMCC Sweeps Doubleheader against Glendale CC

April 26, 2021

The No. 15 South Mountain Community College softball team (21-9, 21-7 ACCAC) defeated Glendale Community College 14-4 and 21-0 (5) in an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader in Glendale on April 24. In the first game, Jackie Traughber and Jaudrey Ah Quin hit home runs and five Cougars had multiple RBIs to defeat the Gauchos. In the second game, Mia Stankiewicz hit three home runs and finished 4-for-4 with six RBIs and Christian Smith tossed a three-hit shutout as the Cougars swept the doubleheader. 

Photo by Andy Silvas
No. 15 SMCC Softball Rebonds with Sweep of Chandler-Gilbert CC

April 21, 2021

The South Mountain Community College softball team (19-9, 19-7 ACCAC) defeated Chandler-Gilbert CC 8-0 and 11-2 in an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader on Tuesday, April 20. In the first game, Jackie Traughber tossed a two-hit shutout with six strikeouts and Tara Lorona hit a pair of home runs to give the Cougars the five-inning victory. In the second game, the Cougars totaled 13 hits in four innings and Christian Smith scattered three hits and three walks to earn the win. 

Photo by Andy Silvas
No. 15 Cougar Softball Falls Twice at No. 1 Phoenix College

April 19, 2021

The No. 15 South Mountain Community College softball team (17-9, 17-7 ACCAC) lost 9-1 and 12-2 to No. 1 Phoenix College in an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday, April 17. Freshman Mia Stankiewicz hit her team-leading 11th home run of the year in the first game and added an RBI in the second game, but the Bears prevailed in the match-up of nationally ranked foes. 

Photo by Andy Silvas
No. 15 SMCC Softball Continues Torrid Stretch with Glendale CC Sweep

April 14, 2021

The No. 15 South Mountain Community College softball team (17-7, 17-5 ACCAC) extended its winning streak to nine-straight games with 9-1 (5) and 13-4 (6) victories over Glendale Community College on April 13. Jackie Traughber had seven strikeouts in the first game and allowed two hits and one unearned run, while Taylor Mount finished 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. In the second game, Tori Van Arsdale hit a walk-off grand slam in the sixth inning to give the Cougars the doubleheader sweep against the Gauchos.