AWC softball, baseball previews
GateWay softball at Arizona Western
Time: Noon today, AWC softball field (DH)
Last game: The Matadors beat Illinois Central 6-1; The Geckos were swept by Eastern Arizona 8-0 and 7-0
Records: AWC (25-11 overall, 16-6 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference); GateWay (2-24 overall, 0-24 ACCAC)
Players to watch: Regina Ramirez is among the team leaders for the Geckos in batting average and RBIs. ... April Marquez is shooting for the AWC team triple crown, leading the Matadors with a .438 batting average and tied for the lead with 29 RBIs and four home runs.
The lowdown: AWC has won 19 straight in the series and has run-ruled the Geckos 17 times in the stretch. ... GateWay's only wins this year were in an early-season doubleheader against Monroe (N.Y.), winning 13-4 in both games.
Arizona Western baseball at Cochise
Time: Noon today, Apache Field, Douglas (DH)
Last game: The Matadors shut out GateWay 10-0. ... The Apaches shut out Pro Training Academy 11-0.
Records: AWC (20-11 overall, 8-6 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference); Cochise (23-9 overall, 9-5 ACCAC)
Players to watch: Travis Garcia-Perreira continues to mow down opposing hitters. He has 35 strikeouts to nine walks and is 6-0 this year. ... Tagg Duce leads the potent Cochise offense with a .432 batting average.
The lowdown: The Matadors have split their last four doubleheaders, although a split may not be the worst thing against Cochise, which has been ranked as high as No. 3 this year. The Apaches have split their last three doubleheaders, and the teams split the last six doubleheaders against each other. ... The Matadors were 4-0 at their weekend tournament in Tucson, while Cochise was 5-1 at their weekend tournament in Phoenix.
— Edward Carifio
