JUCO baseball and softball previews

Yavapai at Arizona Western

Time: Noon today, Kammann Field

Last game: The Matadors split with Central Arizona on Saturday, winning 4-2 before losing 2-1 in 11; The Roughriders split with No. 3 Cochise, winning 11-0 before losing 14-4.

Records: AWC (14-9 overall, 6-4 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference); Yavapai (14-4 overall, 6-4 ACCAC)

Players to watch: After an 8-0 showing last year, Yavapai Game 1 starter Peter Lenstrohm is 1-0 this year with a 0.43 ERA. Lenstrohm pitched the last meeting between the team, eliminating the Matadors from the postseason. ... Dallas Hessler leads the Matadors with 27 RBIs, almost twice as much as the next closest player on the team.

The lowdown: Former Cibola standout Krysthian Leal is one of the top Roughrider hitters, leading them with a .350 batting average — tied with freshman Brandon Matthews. ... Yavapai has won 12 of the last 14 and 28 of the last 42. ... AWC is hitting .251 as a team with a 2.81 ERA, Yavapai is hitting .277 with a 2.44 ERA.

— Edward Carifio

(9) Pima at Arizona Western

Time: Noon today, AWC softball field

Last game: The Matadors swept Paradise Valley in a doubleheader 9-1 in the first game and 10-1 in the second. Both were decided by the fifth inning run rule; The Aztecs were swept by Eastern Arizona 3-1 in the first game and 11-1 in the second game.

Records: AWC (21-9 overall, 13-5 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference); Pima (15-9 overall, 10-8 ACCAC)

Players to watch: After a short 2/3 of an inning outing against Phoenix College last Tuesday, Briana VanSickle bounced back against Paradise Valley striking out six over her five inning complete game. VanSickle will start Game 1 opposite Pima starter Stephanie Vejar, who is 7-2 this year.

The lowdown: The Matadors are looking to keep their home stand unblemished against the Pima Aztecs. Last year, AWC was swept in the season series by Pima, including two blowouts. The Matador offense is a little more potent this year, however, already hitting 22 home runs, three shy of last year's season total of 25.

— Matt Carstens