April 19 , 2005

Sports

MCC baseball coach Tony Cirelli, recently surpassed former skipper Roger Schmuck for career wins. Cirelli has 385 wins as of April 14. Cirelli’s is concluding season No. 11 for the Thunderbirds.

Rebecca Straughmatt Mesa Legend

Benjamin Buettner
Mesa Legend

MCC baseball head coach Tony Cirelli recently surpassed Roger Schmuck’s Thunderbird coaching record of 380. Cirelli has chalked up 385 career victories and a 28-14 mark after Mesa’s two victories over Eastern AZ on April 5.
Cirelli’s record win total has also allotted four conference championships, including three within the previous three seasons. Cirelli has sent 20 former Thunderbirds to Major League Baseball Organizations through the MLB draft in his 10 years coaching.
The Mesa skipper couldn’t be happier with his situation at Mesa. “I love Mesa; I don’t think I would ever leave. There is a lot of tradition and expectations here….from the coaches I’ve followed to the players from here that play in the big leagues,” explained Cirelli. Mesa has made the playoffs 17 out of the last 20 years.
The skipper sat in the baseball manager’s field office where his boxing equipment resides and his Creedence Clearwater Revival plays in middle-innings during ball games while he stared into the outfield. “I just want to put another one on the board,” Cirelli said; speaking of a NJCAA National Championship. Mesa posts three under the scoreboard on the outfield wall for the years of 1970, 1971 and 1972.
The 2005 Thunderbirds have not let down Mesa’s long and rich tradition as they stand alone atop the ACCAC Division II. MCC currently ranks seventh overall in NJCAA Division II as of April 16.