2023-24 SMCC Softball News
SMCC Baseball, Softball Announce Additional Transfers
August 12, 2024
The South Mountain Community College baseball and softball programs have announced additional transfers from their 2024 squad to four-year universities to continue their respective intercollegiate atheltic careers this fall. Sophomore Vanessa Philpot will stay locally, transferring to Nelson University in Phoenix while sophomore Aeneas Clark heads to the University of Missouri. Both spent two seasons at SMCC and helped their respective squads claim Region I Championships.
SMCC Softball Announces Several Four-Year Transfers
July 18, 2024
The South Mountain Community College softball program and head coach Kelley Montalvo announced several of the Cougars' four-year transfers from the 2024 season. Iliana Munoz (UTEP), Mia Franco (La Sierra University), Mekaila Smith (La Sierra University), Mykenzie Flores (Montreat College), Angelica Tello (Cottey College), and Rebecca Miller (Barry University) were all instrumental in helping SMCC reach new heights during their two seasons, including a 2023 ACCAC title and a berth in the 2023 NJCAA Division II World Series.
Dionna Leanio Named NJCAA Third Team All-American
June 04, 2024
Freshman outfielder Dionna Leanio of the South Mountain Community College softball team earned NJCAA Third Team All-American honors after an impressive 2024 season for the Cougars. A 5-1 left-handed slapper from Phoenix, Leanio led the ACCAC with a .521 batting average in the regular season.
Cougar Softball Falls in Region I Division II Final to Phoenix College
May 13, 2024
The South Mountain Community College softball team (28-18) fell 3-2 to Phoenix College in the ACCAC Region I Division II Tournament Final on May 11. Earlier in the tournament, SMCC rallied from an opening-round 12-7 defeat to Chandler-Gilbert CC on May 9 to defeat Scottsdale CC 5-0 and CGCC 7-5 on May 10 to advance to the Regional Final for the third time in the last four years. Sophomore Nadia Rascon blasted a two-run, walk-off victory in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Cougars past the Coyotes in that elimination game.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.