Trojan Shield Weekly Update: April 22, 2019

Greetings from Trojan Country!

The semester is winding its way to a close, and that means there will be many end-of-the-year awards and functions coming up soon. A pair of Trojan athletes were in the news this past week for such awards. Destiny Calderon-Ruiz, a TSJC volleyball student-athlete from Pueblo recently travelled to Washington D.C. as part of a delegation representing SSAC (the State Student Advisory Council). She was able to meet with many of her peers while representing the over 137,000 students in Colorado’s 13 community colleges. Megan Nunez, a sophomore on the TSJC softball team was one of two TSJC students awarded the Rising Star honor. Each year Trinidad State honors two students believed to be on the path to great success in the future. Megan, besides being a member of the softball team, is resident advisor in the halls, is a member of the Student Government Association and Phi Theta Kappa. She came to TSJC from Colorado Springs and plans to continue her education at Metro State in Denver.

Also, on the horizon, the annual Athletic Banquet is a week away. On Tuesday, April 30, the Trojan athletes and coaches will gather with boosters, faculty and staff to look back at the year that has quickly passed us by. It is a fun event that allows us to reflect on the year we’ve had, and also to enjoy hearing the coaches tell stories about their teams.

Last Week's Results

Baseball –

• Defeated Otero 8-4
• Defeated Otero 6-1
• Defeated Otero 4-2
• Defeated Otero 7-2
• Fell to Western Nebraska 3-2
• Fell to Western Nebraska 5-4
• Fell to Western Nebraska 13-4

Softball –

• Defeated Northeastern JC 4-0
• Defeated Northeastern JC 2-0
• Defeated Northeastern JC 7-5
• Fell to Northeastern JC 12-7
• Defeated Western Nebraska 5-3
• Fell to Western Nebraska 5-4
• Defeated Otero JC 5-4
• Defeated Otero JC 15-10

Track and Field – was at the Bryan Clay Invitational and Beach Invitational in California

This Week

Tuesday -

• Baseball hosts Lamar CC at Central Park for a single 9-inning game starting at 1pm

Wednesday -

• Baseball travels to La Junta, Colorado for a for a single 9-inning game with Otero JC

Friday -

• Softball travels to McCook, Nebraska for a doubleheader with McCook CC

Saturday -

• Softball travels to Lamar, Colorado for a doubleheader with Lamar CC
• Baseball travels to McCook, Nebraska for a doubleheader with McCook CC

Sunday -

• Baseball travels to McCook, Nebraska for a for a single 9-inning game with McCook CC

Kelly set to join Dragons

Trojan basketball player Ian Kelly recently signed his letter of intent to play with the Dragons of Tiffin University next season. Kelly came to TSJC from Cherokee Trail High School in Aurora, Colorado. He was an All-Region IX selection this past season for the Trojans, averaging nearly 12 points a game to go with 127 rebounds on the year. Over his two-year career at Trinidad he played in 57 games, shooting 57% from the field and scoring a total of 511 points.

Kelly will join a Dragon team that plays in the Great West Conference of NCAA Division II. They were 10-18 this past season.

Congratulations Ian #TrojanProud

Lady Trojans go 6-2 on a busy week

The Lady Trojans took to the road for six straight games and then returned home for a key series with Otero prior to getting a short break before the final weekend of the regular season. The Trojans played some of their best ball of the season, taking six of the eight games, including three from the top two teams in the region standings.

The series started in Sterling, Colorado on Sunday. The Trojans shut the Plainswomen out on the day, winning the pair by scores of 4-0 and 2-0. Teddi Garcia tossed a complete game one-hitter in game one and Avery Bohn tossed a four-hitter in game two. Home runs from Bohn and Megan Reidhead accounted for the TSJC runs in game one and Avellaka Arviso’s two run home run accounted for all of the runs in game two. On Monday the teams met up again. The Trojans needed an extra inning in game one but held on for the 7-5 win in extras. Game two got away from the Trojans as they allowed 12 runs across, falling 12-5.

On Tuesday the Trojans faced off with the Cougars from Western Nebraska. WNCC is currently in first place in the region. The teams split earlier this year in Trinidad, and the results of the day would be the same. The Trojans taking game one 5-3 and Western knotting up the series with a 5-4 win in the finale. Garcia was lights out again with a 4-hit, 7 strikeout performance to get the win for Trinidad.

The busy week wrapped up with the second place Rattlers from Otero coming to Trinidad for a doubleheader on Thursday. Garcia picked up her 13th win of the season as TSJC got a walk-off single from Jelaeni Kapanui in the seventh to bring Brittney Krey across for the winning run. In game two the Trojans connected for seven home runs as they distanced the Rattlers 15-5. Leaving the park for the Trojans were Gabryella Williams, Bohn, Rachel McKinley, Sheyanne Sandoval (2) and Reidhead (2).

The Trojans are now 22-23 (13-13) with four games left on the regular season schedule. They will travel to McCook and Lamar next weekend to wrap up play. TSJC is currently in line for one of the four spots in the upcoming Region IX tournament, but this week’s games are crucial. The standings following Saturday’s games are as follows –

Baseball sweeps Otero

The Trojans played a four-game series with Otero Junior College last weekend, sweeping the series by scores of 8-4, 6-1, 4-2 and 7-2.

Day one the games were in La Junta. The Trojans got a big lead in game one as five runners crossed in the first. It was all the firepower Anthony Durbano would need as the Trojan sophomore tossed a complete game seven hitter with seven strikeouts. In game two Sebastian Olivo tossed six scoreless innings and the Trojans got doubles from Cody Beck, Cristian Lopez and Chris Villarreal to win 6-1.

On Monday the series moved to Trinidad. The Rattlers went up 2-0 early, but Vance Ferraro came in and controlled the visitors for the final four innings. The Trojans got the bats going, including a home run from Reid Baty, to come from behind for the 4-2 win. In the final game of the weekend Otero again jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first only to be shut down the rest of the way. Bohdi Bolen went the distance to get his third win of the year, striking out eight along the way.

The Trojans road struggles continued at Scottsbluff this weekend as they dropped their series with Western Nebraska. TSJC is narrowly in first heading into the final two weeks of the season. The top four teams will head to the regional tournament in early May. TSJC plays its final home game of the season on Tuesday when they host Lamar at Central Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1pm.

Some photos from the week

Quote of the Week -

"Persistence can change failure into extraordinary achievement." - Matt Biondi

GO TROJANS!

#DMGB - Doesn’t Matter Get Better

Mike Salbato

Athletic Director
Trinidad State Junior College