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Top Southern Arizona sports stories of 2025: July

By Javier Morales

Posted on December 30, 2025

Top Southern Arizona sports stories of 2025:

Arizona Athletics

Nine Arizona Players Taken in MLB Draft: Nine players from the Arizona baseball program were selected in the 2025 MLB Draft, the most since 2008, and all of them signed with their respective pro team. The group was led by OF Brendan Summerhill (Tampa Bay Rays, No. 42 overall) and OF Aaron Walton (Cleveland Guardians, No. 66) on Day 1, with SS Mason White (Boston Red Sox, Round 4) and others like C Adonys Guzman (Pittsburgh Pirates, Round 5) drafted on Day 2. Other Wildcats drafted included pitchers Julian Tonghini, Hunter Alberini, Casey Hintz, Raul Garayzar, and Michael Hilker Jr., showcasing a strong draft class for the program. Garayzar became the first player from Rio Rico High School to be taken in the MLB Draft.
Mike Bibby’s Daughter Commits to Arizona Volleyball: After graduating from Scottsdale Saguaro High School in 2027 — 30 years after her father Mike led Arizona to the NCAA men’s basketball championship — Nylah Bibby is slated to represent Arizona at McKale Center as a member of Charita Stubbs’ volleyball program. Nylah, a 5-foot-10 outside hitter, was offered a scholarship by Stubbs on July 10 and committed shortly thereafter.
Arizona Fall Training Camp Starts: The Arizona football team, coming off a 4-8 season, began its training camp, with practices July 30. The primary focus of early developments included the return of quarterback Noah Fifita and addition of transfers such as wide receiver Tre Spivey, while the team also worked to address losses on the offensive line and at the tight end position.

Other Developments

Legendary Ump Works Last Game: Longtime youth umpire Bob Hall worked his last game of his career July 3 to end a 55-year run of service to our young athletes. Among his accomplishments: being the home plate umpire for the 1996 Little League World Series. He was recognized by District 12 administrator Cindy Snow before the Little League Baseball championship game between Rincon and San Xavier. His wife, son and daughter-in-law were present for his celebration.

Bob Hall recognized prior to the D-12 Little League Championship. 55 years including working behind the plate at a World Series Championship game. #OldPueblo https://t.co/cx64v5FII4 pic.twitter.com/isujHrjAYD

— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) July 4, 2025

Tucson High Graduate Earns MVP Honor: Tenochtli Eli Nepan Ollin earned the Gatorade MVP award after leading his Diamondbacks team to the championship of the 2025 Nike RBI West Regional Tournament Seniors Division at Seattle on July 28. Ollin, who graduated in May and is headed to Central Arizona College, led the D-Backs Nike RBI Seniors to a 5-0 record in the tournament.
Thornydale Little League One Game From Reaching World Series: The fifth inning for the Thornydale Little League All-Stars on July 25 stings, but the joy of the 11 victories this summer, including a captivating run to the West Region championship game behind ace Kenzie Scott, will be substantial as time goes on. Thornydale, which went 3-0 in the winners’ bracket of the West Region at San Bernardino, lost 12-2 by run rule in five innings in the winner-take-all game against elimination-bracket finalist Southern California in front of an ESPN audience.
Michelle Rushing Wins National Title in 200 Hurdles: Local track standout Michelle Rushing won the national USATF Junior Olympics 13-14 200 meter hurdles championship July 25 at the USATF meet taking place in Savannah, Ga. Competing for Arizona Titans, Rushing ran a personal record of 27.70 to win the event over Harmony Moore of Albany, Ga. (27.90) and Harper Fish of Central City, Neb. (28.10). Rushing became the top-ranked in the nation at this age level.
Tucson Turf Wins 12U National Championship: Tucson Turf Elite 12U Chargers exhibited its grit once again in the 13-12 victory July 20 over the six-time defending champion Red Zone All Stars Falcons of Miami for the title at the NFL FLAG Championships at Canton, Ohio. The Chargers went 8-0 in the competition, including thrilling one-point victories in their last three games, including twice on Sunday. Their first game in pool play was also a one-point triumph. Their other victory was by six points in the second round. They defeated the THT Jets of Staten Island, N.Y., 22-21, in the semifinal round before outlasting the Falcons in the championship.
Post 7 Tucson Wins Another American Legion State Title: Post 7 Tucson, featuring mostly standouts from Tucson High, needed to beat Post 73 Crush twice July 22 to earn another trip to the American Legion West Region tournament and the Moondogs pulled it off with a 7-0 victory in the first game over Sunnyside held at Vista Grande High School followed by a dramatic 8-7 win the second game. A team from Tucson has won the American Legion state championship 54 times in the 100 years of competition and Post 7 has won 31 of those including the last four in a row.
MVP Juan Hernandez leads Show Sluggers to Sun Belt College Baseball League Title: All but one player from Southern Arizona was involved in the second game of the championship series of the Sun Belt College Baseball League on July 16 between the Show Sluggers and Old Pueblo Kings at the Kino Sports Complex. The game was competitive, well played, and dramatic at the end. The Show held off the Kings, who had the bases loaded in the seventh, to win 5-3. The victory earned the Show the sweep of the first two games of the best-of-three series. In the first game Monday night, the Sluggers rallied for all five of their runs in the last two innings to win 5-2. Tucson High graduate Juan Hernandez was the MVP. The right-hander earned the win, pitching five scoreless innings while allowing only two hits. He struck out six and walked four. Hernandez also went 1 for 3 with an RBI and a stolen base, batting second in the order.
Maccabi Games Come to Tucson: Tucson hosted the multi-sport event from July 27 to Aug. 1. The citywide celebration of athleticism and Jewish heritage brought athletes from across the country to compete in various sports, including volleyball, swimming, basketball, and soccer.