Region I semifinals marks end of Thunderbird baseball season
The Mesa Community College baseball team’s season ended Friday after the Thunderbirds lost the Region I semifinals series against Gateway Community College, ending their 2024 season.
The Thunderbirds lost the first two games of a three game series against the Geckos despite earning the number one seed.
The first game took place on May 3, ending in a 3-0 defeat for MCC.
Sophomore pitcher Eric Nachtsheim would put together a strong six inning performance for MCC, allowing only two runs and striking out six batters.
Redshirt sophomore right hander Logan Martin started for Gateway, limiting the Thunderbird offense to just six hits through 8.2 innings, nearly a complete game.
The Thunderbirds were not able to take advantage of having men on first and second base in the fifth and eighth innings.
MCC was also able to load the bases in the bottom of the eighth, leading to the pitching switch by Gateway which ended Martin’s game at 8.2 IP.
Redshirt sophomore right hander Jeffrey Martz would get the final out needed to close the game on the next batter.
The second game of the series did not fare much better for MCC as the Thunderbirds would lose 11-1, ending their season.
The offense was never able to get going during either game, and an eight run inning by Gateway in the top of the seventh inning would lead to an early end to the final game of the season for MCC.
The Thunderbirds would take a one run lead in the bottom of the second when Gateway redshirt sophomore utility player Andres Gonzalez walked in a run after loading the bases.
MCC would be unable to add any more runs despite having the bases loaded with nobody out.
Thunderbird runners would be left on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth and fifth inning.
Gateway would take a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning before scoring eight in the top of the seventh inning.
Despite the abrupt end to the season, the Thunderbirds were able to amass 35 wins, the most since the 2019 season.
The Thunderbirds will look to continue the journey back to the NJCAA World Series in 2025.
