2023-24 SMCC Softball News

Trio of Cougars Named to 2024 Softball All-ACCAC & All-Region I Teams
Trio of Cougars Named to 2024 Softball All-ACCAC & All-Region I Teams

May 07, 2024

Three South Mountain Community College softball team members earned spots on the 2024 Softball All-ACCAC and All-Region I Division II Teams, as voted upon by the league's coaches. Freshman outfielder Dionna Leanio earned First Team All-ACCAC honors, while sophomore infielder Iliana Munoz and freshman utility player Taylor Christensen earned Second Team All-ACCAC honors. All three also received a spot on the All-Region I Division II team.

SMCC Softball Splits with Glendale CC
SMCC Softball Splits with Glendale CC

May 01, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (26-16, 21-15 ACCAC) split an ACCAC doubleheader at Glendale CC on April 30, falling 11-10 in game one before posting a 4-3 victory in game two. Sophomore Iliana Munoz had four hits, and sophomore Vanessa Philpot and freshman Elise Saucedo drove in three apiece in the game-one loss. In game two, Saucedo added two more RBIs, freshman Michelle Balcazar and sophomore Mekaila Smith had three hits and freshman Taylor Christensen tossed a complete game with five strikeouts. 

SMCC Softball Splits with Phoenix College
SMCC Softball Splits with Phoenix College

April 29, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (25-15, 20-14 ACCAC) split an ACCAC home doubleheader against Phoenix College on April 27, winning game one 11-10 before falling 7-4 in game two. Freshman Michelle Balcazar hit two home runs and drove in five as the Cougars rallied for the victory in game one. Sophomore Iliana Munoz finished 3 for 3 with a solo home run, but the Bears scored six runs in the seventh to post a split on the day. 

SMCC Softball Sweeps GateWay CC, Scottsdale CC
SMCC Softball Sweeps GateWay CC, Scottsdale CC

April 24, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (24-14, 19-13 ACCAC) swept a pair of ACCAC home doubleheaders recently, defeating GateWay CC 13-2 (6 innings) and 3-2 on April 20 and defeating Scottsdale CC 9-1 (6 innings) and 7-4 on April 23. Sophomore Iliana Munoz led the charge offensively for the Cougars, posting multi-hit efforts in all four victories, plus five extra-base hits, five runs, and six RBIs. In the circle, sophomores Mykenzie Flores and Angelica Tello turned in impressive performances, and freshman Taylor Christensen recorded a pair of saves and a win. 

SMCC Softball Splits ACCAC Doubleheader with CGCC
SMCC Softball Splits ACCAC Doubleheader with CGCC

April 17, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (20-14, 15-13 ACCAC) split an ACCAC doubleheader at the SMCC Softball Diamond on April 16. In game one, the Cougars fell 9-1 in five innings before posting a 10-5 victory in game two. Sophomore Mykenzie Flores tossed a complete game and held the Coyotes to three hits to help the Cougars split the doubleheader and claim the season series with the CGCC.

SMCC Softball Splits Doubleheader at Mesa CC
SMCC Softball Splits Doubleheader at Mesa CC

April 15, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (19-13, 14-12 ACCAC) split an ACCAC doubleheader at Mesa CC on April 13, winning 13-3 in game one before falling 6-5 in game two. Sophomore Mekaila Smith led SMCC with three hits and freshmen Nadia Rascon and Elise Saucedo hit home runs in the game-one victory. In game two, freshmen Brianna Risley, Jasmyne Campos, and Saucedo collected doubles, but the Thunderbirds rallied for four runs in the fifth to snap the Cougars' winning streak. 

SMCC Softball Sweeps Gateway CC to Extend Winning Streak
SMCC Softball Sweeps Gateway CC to Extend Winning Streak

April 10, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (18-12, 13-11 ACCAC) defeated Gateway CC 7-2 and 18-7 (5 innings) in an ACCAC doubleheader at the SMCC Softball Field on April 9. Freshman Taylor Christensen fanned a career-high 16 batters to lead the Cougars to a victory in the opener. In the second game, freshman Nadia Rascon went 4 for 4 with four runs, five RBIs, two home runs, and a double. 

Cougar Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at Chandler-Gilbert CC
Cougar Softball Sweeps Doubleheader at Chandler-Gilbert CC

April 08, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (16-12, 11-11 ACCAC) swept a road ACCAC doubleheader at Chandler-Gilbert CC on Saturday, April 6, posting 10-4 and 12-8 victories over the Coyotes. Sophomore Vanessa Philpot went 3 for 4 with two doubles, two runs, and two RBIs in the game-one victory. In game two, the Cougars overcame a 7-3 deficit with nine runs over the final three innings to sweep the twinbill.  

SMCC Softball Rallies to Sweep PVCC
SMCC Softball Rallies to Sweep PVCC

April 05, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (14-12, 9-11 ACCAC) swept an ACCAC doubleheader against Paradise Valley Community College on April 4 at the SMCC Softball Field. The Cougars posted a 9-1, five-inning victory in game one as freshman Nadia Rascon finished 3 for 3 with two doubles, a home run, and three RBIs. In the second game, SMCC overcame a 6-1 deficit to post a 7-6 victory as freshman Sabrina Erran hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. 

SMCC Softball Falls Twice at Central Arizona
SMCC Softball Falls Twice at Central Arizona

April 01, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (12-12, 7-11) lost 12-6 and 6-5 to Central Arizona in an ACCAC doubleheader in Coolidge, Ariz., on Mar. 30. Freshman Taylor Christensen blasted a home run, and freshman Dionna Leanio added three hits in game one, while sophomore Iliana Munoz smacked her team-leading 12th home run of the year in game two. 

Cougar Softball Falls in Slugfest with Eastern Arizona
Cougar Softball Falls in Slugfest with Eastern Arizona

March 27, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (12-10, 7-9 ACCAC) lost 21-10 and 15-13 to Eastern Arizona in an ACCAC doubleheader on Tuesday, Mar. 26, at the SMCC Softball Field. Sophomore Mia Franco finished 3 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs in game one, and freshman Nadia Rascon went 3 for 4 with three home runs and six RBIs in game two. 

Cougar Softball Sweeps Doubleheader from Glendale CC
Cougar Softball Sweeps Doubleheader from Glendale CC

March 25, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (12-8, 7-7 ACCAC) defeated Glendale CC 11-1 (6 innings) and 11-3 (5 innings) in an ACCAC doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 23. Freshman Taylor Christensen homered in both games and sophomore Angelica Tello earned a win and a save in the circle for the Cougars. 

SMCC Softball Defeats Arizona Christian in Non-Conference Action
SMCC Softball Defeats Arizona Christian in Non-Conference Action

March 19, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (10-8) defeated Arizona Christian University 20-8 in a non-conference road contest on Monday, Mar. 18. The Cougars totaled 19 hits and 15 stolen bases over the seven innings, with sophomore Iliana Munoz hitting a home run and sophomore Vanessa Philpot and freshman Azlynn Madrid leading SMCC with three hits. 

SMCC Softball Finishes 3-3 During Spring Break
SMCC Softball Finishes 3-3 During Spring Break

March 18, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (9-8, 5-7 ACCAC) went 3-3 over its slate of six games during spring break. The Cougars swept an ACCAC doubleheader at Scottsdale CC on Mar. 9 before falling in both ends of a twinbill at Phoenix College on Mar. 12. Finally, SMCC wrapped up its spring break by splitting an ACCAC home doubleheader against Yavapai College.  

SMCC Softball Falls to Pima CC, Sweeps Lake Region State
SMCC Softball Falls to Pima CC, Sweeps Lake Region State

March 07, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (6-5, 2-4 ACCAC) lost an ACCAC doubleheader against Pima CC on Mar. 5 but rebounded to sweep Lake Region State in a non-conference doubleheader on Mar. 6. Sophomore Iliana Munoz hit three home runs and finished 4 for 4 with five RBIs in game one against Pima CC, but the Aztecs used timely hitting to sweep the league twinbill. The following day, freshmen Taylor Christensen and Brianna Risley hit the first home runs of their SMCC careers, and Munoz blasted another deep fly as the Cougars swept the Royals. 

SMCC Softball Falls Twice at Arizona Western
SMCC Softball Falls Twice at Arizona Western

March 04, 2024

The South Mountain Community College softball team (4-3. 2-2 ACCAC) lost both ends of an ACCAC doubleheader at Arizona Western on Saturday, Mar. 2, in Yuma. The Cougars fell 5-1 in game one and 8-3 in game two to the Matadors in their only conference meeting.