Coach Cirelli Announces Baseball Tryouts August 8

Coach Cirelli has announced tryouts for baseball on Saturday, August 8 at 8:00 a.m. at the Mesa Baseball Field at the Southern and Dobson campus.

Players are asked to bring a current physical and be prepared to show their skills.

Please contact Coach Cirelli with any questions at 480-461-7562.

Mesa Wins Game One On Zany Play

Can knock off 1-seed PVCC Friday, May 1 at 3:00 p.m.

If you weren't there, you wouldn't have believed it.

Those of us that were have a hard time believing it.

Mesa Thunderbird baseball, behind some stellar pitching from the staff ace Coltin White and a heads up play by the battery, won game one of the best of three Regional Playoff opening round against top-seeded Paradise Valley, 4-3.

Mesa struck first on a bloop single from Brian Walsh that scored Scott Payne in the fourth inning. Payne got on board with a single of his own and advanced to second on a balk.

PVCC came roaring back in the bottom of the sixth to score three.

Mesa then answered with two to tie it in the seventh. Nick Orr hustled out an infield hit. Jason Demore followed with a single that put men on the corners.

Derek McCawley singled in Orr and then Jeff Harkensee singled to load the bases.

Tanner Allen reached on an error as Scott Payne scored to tie the ball game.

It would remain tied until the ninth.

After Jeff Harkensee just missed a fastball, flying out to deep right, Scott Payne doubled. Tanner Allen then singled but due to the angle of the fly to center, Payne was unable to advance. Pinch-hitter Gary Mayberry then hit into a fielder's choice that advanced Payne to third.

Jerry Pajak then knocked in the go-ahead run with a solid single to center, scoring Payne. Mesa led 4-3.

To the bottom of the ninth, with horse Coltin White on the bump and a pitch count nearing 180, White got the first hitter to pop out. A sharp single followed and then a fielder's choice advanced the PVCC runner to second with two gone.

A sharp single followed scoring the presumed tying run.

However, the battery of Pajak and White alertly watched the runner cross the plate to view the tieing run score. Both adamantly reacted as if the runner missed the plate.

The appeal was made as White handed the ball to Pajak to step on home. While the PVCC dugout was jumping in elation, celebrating the tie, the umpire signaled sharply "Out."

Mesa's dugout erupted onto the field as the appeal in Mesa's favor signaled the end of the game and a one-run victory.

"He missed the plate by a good foot or so," said Pajak after the game.

Mesa can now knock off PVCC on their home turf tomorrow, Friday, May 1 at 3:00 p.m.

T'Birds now 23-12 On 2009 Campaign

11-9 in the ACCAC has team in 2nd among DII teams

Ahrendt fires to the dish

Harkensee ready at the plate

Lopez connects with one

Safe at second

That's a wrap...Mesa moves to 23-12

T'Birds Now 16-6 On The Year

Team starting to gel

Coach Cirelli and staff are seeing their young hitters and pitchers come into their own.

The team is fifth in the ACCAC in team batting at .307. They have amassed 35 doubles, good for eighth best, and eight triples, good for sixth best .

Fourth in the league in total steals with 35, Mesa also is posting a 3.58 team ERA, which is sixth best.

With the seventh best average int he league, sophomore outfielder Jeff Harkensee is hitting a smoking .407. Harkensee's eight doubles leads the team and is seventh best in the ACCAC.

Also among the hitting leaders in the ACCAC are freshman infielder Derek McCauley, ranked 22nd in the league with a .348 clip. Sophomore infielder Scott Payne is 24th overall and batting a cool .345. Lastly, freshman infielder Tanner Allen is hitting 25th overall at a .344 pace.

On the pitching side, freshman righty Coltin White leads all ACCAC hurlers in wins at 6-0. Sophomore righty Frank Abbl has a minute 2.49 ERA thus far, allowing only seven runs in 25 1/3 innings.

Mesa takes the field Friday, March 13 in a double-dip at home at noon against Springfield. Saturday, March 14 sees the T'Birds back on the diamond at home for another double-header against Illinois Central, starting at noon.

Cirelli And Staff Have Tbirds Off To 10-3 Start

Team off and running into ACCAC play - Update

Mesa is currently in 2nd place in the ACCAC standings and tied for first in Division II pairings. At 10-3 overall and 4-2 in the conference, Cirelli's bunch most recently split with Glendale, losing 7-4, and winning 11-5.

The men play four this week beginning Tuesday, February 24th at South Mountain. The Cougars then visit MCC Wednesday, February 25th at 3:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, February 27-28 is a home and home vs. Scottsdale. Friday's game is away at 3:00 p.m. Saturday's game begins at noon.

Thus far offensively, sophomore outfielder Jeff Harkensee is among the league leaders in batting with a .455 average in 33 at-bats. As a team, Mesa is hitting .282 with 19 doubles, four triples, and 29 stolen bases (3rd in ACCAC).

On the bump, the Thunderbirds are posting a team ERA of 3.14 and have allowed only 45 walks, which is among the league leaders. Pitchers have rung up 93 hitters through the first 13 games.

Sophomore righty Frank Abbl out of Wilcox has 22 punchouts in 15 innings pitched, which is a 1.47 K's per inning, good for best in the ACCAC. Abble is also posting a 2.40 ERA which is in the top 20 of the ACCAC.

At 4-0, freshman righty out of Mountain View, Coltin White leads the ACCAC in wins.

2009 Baseball Ready To Roll

Cirelli enters 15th season as T'Birds skipper

With a good nucleus of returnees and a solid incoming recruting class, the Thunderbirds are poised for a return to the NJCAA World Series.

Cirelli, along with Pitching Coach Tom Novak, Bench Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Doug Rose, and Assistant Coach Sean Kenney, knows the team has their work cut out for them in the ACCAC.

"Mesa kids know they have a tough row to hoe if they want to make it to the Series," says Cirelli.

Cirelli's staff has been in place for many years now. Coach Rose is entering his 12th season. Coach Novak is heading into his third, and Coach Kenney, his second. Kenney was a member of Cirelli's last team to reach the World Series in 2006.

The sophomores on the squad include Jason Demore, Nick Orr, Scott Payne, Eric Lopez, Frank Abbl, Jerry Pajak, Ryan Guy, Jeff Harkensee, and Michael Gaskins.

The T'birds take the field on Friday and Saturday against Weber State at home. Both days are double-headers and both games start at noon.

Fans can look forward to homes games being called by public address announcer Gary Sievers.

CIRELLI SETS ALUMNI GAME

To coincide with Homecoming Weekend

CALLING ALL FORMER MESA BALLPLAYERS

Mesa baseball skipper Tony Cirelli announes he will be showcasing the history of Mesa Baseball with an alumni game coinciding with Homecoming Weekend on Sunday, November 9 at noon on the baseball field.

The 3rd Annual MCC Sports Hall of Fame will take place that weekend as well.

Friday night, November 7 at 6:00 p.m. at the Mesa Hilton, the Athletics Department will induct new members to their prestigious Hall. This year's inductees include Tom Bennett, Byron Walker, and Roxanne Keating just to name a few. Please contact Deb Devore in the Development Office for more information pertaining to the Hall of Fame at 480-461-7963, or Todd Bolser in Athletics Media Relations.

The football team will play on Saturday, November 8 at 2:00 p.m. against Scottsdale in the Homecoming Game.

Interested players for the alumni game please RSVP to Todd Bolser in Athletics Media Relations at 480-461-7543.

Baseball Skipper Announces 2009 Walk-On Tryouts

Cirelli looking forward to next campaign

Mesa skipper Tony Cirelli will embark on his 15th season at the helm for the Mesa Thunderbirds. He announced on Monday, June 23 that he will have two walk-on tryouts for the 2009 season.

August 8 at 5:00 p.m. and August 9 at 8:00 a.m. are the two tryout dates. Those interested in becoming members of one of the elite junior college baseball programs in the country are asked to participate both days of the tryouts.

Contact Coach Cirelli for any further questions at 480-461-7562.

Cirelli Honors Two Of His Brightest

Coach honors Berg and Lewis at banquet

Mesa baseball skipper Tony Cirelli nonored Tyler Berg and Connor Lewis for their continued accolades and triumphs on and off the diamond.

Mesa held its annual Athletics Awards Banquet on Monday, April 20 in front of nearly 300.

"These kids have continued to do the little things on and off the field," said Cirelli.

Mesa is in the midst of wrapping up its 2008 season. They have remaining games on April 23 vs. Glendale at home, April 25 on the road vs. Gateway, and finally April 26 vs. Scottsdale at home.

Please contact The Athletics Department for comments or corrections phone: 480-461-7562