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Historic Season Comes to an End for Apaches in Region 1 Championship Game

Cochise Central
May 10, 2026

HENDERSON, Nev. — The remarkable 2026 season for the Cochise College Apaches came to a close Sunday afternoon as Cochise fell to Central Arizona College, 15–7, in the deciding game of the NJCAA Region 1 Championship Round in Henderson, Nevada. With the victory, Central Arizona captures its second consecutive Region 1 Championship .

Cochise finishes the season with an outstanding 46–15 overall record, capping off one of the most successful seasons in program history.

Fast Start for Cochise

The Apaches came out swinging early and appeared poised to force momentum back in their favor after erupting for seven runs in the second inning.

The rally began with RBI singles from Anthony Montez and Cesar Chavira, before TJ Shaw Jr. was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in another run.

Moments later, George McCarroll drew an RBI walk, and Shiryu Sato followed with an RBI single. Cochise capped the inning when Landon Blais reached on a fielder's choice and throwing error, allowing two more runs to score as the Apaches built a commanding 7–0 lead.

Central Arizona Responds

Central Arizona slowly chipped away at the deficit over the next several innings.

After a solo home run in the third inning, the Vaqueros added three runs in the fifth to cut the lead to 7–4.

The turning point came in the seventh inning, when Central Arizona erupted for 10 runs in a chaotic frame that included:

  • Multiple defensive miscues
  • Wild pitches
  • Timely RBI hits
  • Five Cochise errors overall in the game

The Vaqueros added another run in the eighth inning and held the Apaches scoreless over the final seven innings to secure the championship.

Offensive Leaders

Despite the loss, Cochise totaled 10 hits in the contest.

Cochise showed resilience throughout the tournament, battling through four consecutive elimination games to reach the championship finale.

Historic Season for the Apaches

Although the season ended one win shy of a Region 1 title, the 2026 Apaches delivered one of the strongest campaigns in school history:

  • 46 wins
  • Tied the program regular season wins record (43)
  • Set a new single-season home run record (78)
  • Earned the No. 2 seed in the Region 1 Tournament
  • Advanced to the Region 1 Championship Round
  • Defeated top-seeded Southern Nevada in postseason play
  • Featured five First Team All-ACCAC / Region 1 selections
  • ACCAC Assistant Coach of the Year honors

The Apaches' postseason run showcased the resilience, depth, and fight that defined the team throughout the spring.

While the season concludes in Henderson, the accomplishments of the 2026 Cochise Baseball team will leave a lasting mark on the program.