The Bucs arrived in Phoenix on Saturday to get prepared for spring training games throughout the week. The schedule is loaded with teams all over the top 20 in the junior college ranking. Coach Phil McClure stated, “I always schedule teams that are difficult to play because it prepares us for the conference challenge when we return for conference play.”
On Monday, the Buccaneers squared off with #7 Mesa Community College in a nine inning thriller. Dylan Martin took the mound for the Bucs and pitched 7 full innings giving up only 4 runs. The offense for the Bucs was fueled by Kayne McGee who went 2-4 with 3 RBI’s. The game was up and down with it looking like the team who made a mistake would lose. The game came down to the wire in the bottom of the 9th with Mesa knocking a walk-off 2 run homerun to win the game.
Assistant coach Dan Christmann pointed out, “Our team stepped up to the challenge and took a top ranked team to the end of the line. We just came up short. A couple of hits with runners in scoring position for us would have locked up a win.”
The Bucs look to rebound this week against some more tough competition.