Paige Adair is an Aztec from Aztec.
Pima Collegeβs ace pitcher grew up in Aztec, New Mexico, and went to Aztec High School. Pima coach Armando Quiroz used the Aztec connection to recruit the freshman to the Tucson college, she said. Only two American colleges carry the nickname Aztecs β San Diego State and Pima.
βIt was fate. It was destiny,β Quiroz said. βAnd her high school colors were orange.β
That fate has helped transform the 5-foot-2-inch Adair into Pimaβs top pitcher.
The Aztecs split a doubleheader with Arizona Western College on Tuesday. Adair started both games, pitching a complete game in the 6-0 win and throwing for the first 6Βͺ innings of a nine-inning, 11-8 loss.
Adair has started six of the Aztecsβ seven games. Sheβs pitched 41Βͺ innings, allowed 30 hits and struck out 54. The freshman has an ERA of 1.22, which Adair said she would like to lower, and a 5-0 record.
The Aztecs (5-2) will play three games in the Great Western Shootout Tournament, which begins Thursday in Yuma.
Adair said sheβs no stranger to throwing complete games. She actually prefers it that way.
βIn high school I always threw complete games. I never really got pulled out unless the other team was really on me,β Adair said. βI love throwing complete games. I want complete games all to myself.β
Quiroz calls her a βbulldog.β β
College softball has proved to be a lot different than high school, Adair said. For one, itβs faster. And itβs tougher.
βCollege lineups are 1-9. Every girl I have to focus on β every batter,β Adair said. βItβs not like in high school, where I can slack off a batter and just blow it by. I have to focus on every batter.β
Quiroz said heβs not worried about the Adairβs learning curve as she keeps transitioning to college.
βThe more work she gets, the better sheβs going to get. And she works really hard at practice,β Quiroz said.
βThose things will take care of themselves. Sheβs facing better caliber hitters than she did in high school, but she stood right up to them.β
Adair said she would like to continue playing at a four-year university, and has her eyes set on Arizona. Really, she just wants to play softball for as long as possible, she said.
Adair is one of only two true pitchers on the Aztecsβ roster. While Quiroz said heβs lacking in depth in pitching, heβs happy with the two pitchers he has.
The Aztecsβ second pitcher, freshman Alese Casper of Utah, also serves as a utility player. Casper has pitched 8ΒΊ innings in two games and has a 0-2 record.
βSheβs a big defensive player for us, a leadoff batter, so she does it all,β Quiroz said. βSheβs our other pitcher and sheβs very good as well.β
Quiroz said itβs still really early in the season, but hopes the team can continue building off their success.
βWe got off to a really good start and weβre happy with the progress theyβve made,β Quiroz said. βThis team works really hard.β