Post Season Honors
South Mountain Community College set a new school record for wins in a regular season with 39 wins in 2005. Along with this accomplishment came several individual honors for Cougar ballplayers. Sophomores CJ Retherford and Josh Tarnow received the honor of First Team All-ACCAC. Retherford also received First Team All-Region honors, while Tarnow received 2nd-Team All-Region honors. Freshmen catcher Dan Colella and pitcher Scott Mueller received 2nd Team All-ACCAC honors. Sophomore pitcher Stephen Miller received the honor of South Mountain Community College Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year with a 6-2 record on the mound and a 3.93 GPA in the classroom. CJ Retherford was also named the Region 1 Tournament MVP for his performance in post-season competition.
SMCC Baseball: 2005 Outlook
The 2005 South Mountain CC Baseball team will feature a blend of returning lettermen, incoming freshmen, professionally drafted players, and key transfers. There are 11 returning sophomores, 1 red-shirt freshman, 17 freshmen, and 4 transfers. On the 26 man spring roster (with 7 red-shirts), there are 8 student-athletes that have been drafted in Major League Baseball’s Amateur Draft. With this mix of experience and talent, the 2005 Cougars expect to meet the challenges of a tough ACCAC schedule, as well as a non-conference schedule that includes the last two NJCAA national champions and 11 games against teams that have been to the NJCAA World Series over the last three years.
Defense:
The Cougars will return a very experienced group of catchers and infielders from a year ago. The catching core may be the Cougars most talented position with incoming freshman Dan Colella, Luis Nieblas (.407 batting average in 2004), and two drafted catchers in Kala Kaaihue and Josh Tarnow. With the athletic ability of the four catchers, they could all be everyday players in the 2005 line-up. Two All-Conference players from 2004, Jesus Luna and CJ Retherford, will provide a solid left side of the infield. Transfer Marcus Henninger should also see significant time in the infield. Both Steven Pesqueira and Max Leon, everyday players in 2004, will see time in the infield, as well as providing solid defense in the outfield. Newcomers Kevin McAtee (1B/OF), Tim Martinez (INF), Phil Anderrag (INF), and sophomore Anthony Franco will compete for playing time at right field, first base, and designated hitter. Redshirt freshman Mike Witham, the Cougars best defensive outfielder, and Freshman Joe Stockton will be strong competitors in the outfield.
Pitching:
Despite losing two of the top three starting pitchers from 2004, the Cougars team is built around the strength of the pitching staff. Both Luis Cota (Kansas City Royals) and Isaac Hess (Washington State) left after their freshmen seasons at SMCC, but the pitching staff has a blend of experienced sophomores and talented freshmen. Transfer Rosalino Valenzuela and returner CJ Retherford have been All-Conference players in the ACCAC. Returning sophomores Rene Lopez, Stephen Miller, and Ernest Moraga are coming off of successful 2004 seasons. Freshmen Kris Alford, Dustin Brader, Rene Garcia, Scott Mueller, and Chad Whittle should see a lot of mound time and make a significant impact for the 2005 Cougars. The Cougars bullpen looks to be tough at the end of games with returning closer Joe Alvarez (7 saves in 2004), transfer Nick Parks, and Chad Whittle.
Offense:
The 2005 Cougars return the core of an offense that hit .310 as a team in 2004. Leading the way offensively, will be returners Luis Nieblas (.407 on 2004), Max Leon (.374 in 2004), Jesus Luna (.324 in 2004), and CJ Retherford (.313 in 2004). The top of the line-up will feature the speed and base-running of Retherford, Henninger, Leon, and Pesqueira. The power in the middle of the Cougar order should come from Nieblas, Kaaihue, McAtee, Martinez, Anderrag, Franco, Tarnow, Colella, and Garcia.
Please come out and see the 2005 Cougars as they begin regular season play on Jan. 28, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada or as they begin their home schedule on Feb. 4, 2005 in the Maricopa County Tournament at South Mountain Community College.