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Ray High Bearcats
The No. 4-ranked Ray baseball team was defeated by top-ranked Superior in last Friday’s regular-season finale, 18 – 2.
However, the loss was the Cats’ first in its last five games and followed a four-game winning streak, which included a win against No. 11-ranked and playoff-bound Hayden. The Cats outscored their opponents during the recent streak, 68 – 2.
Seven Bearcats had at least two hits in a 16 – 0 lopsided win against Ft. Thomas last Thursday. Jaden Pace led the attack with three hits, including a double, which was one of six hit in the game by Ray. Anthony Acuna, Noah Warren, Fabian Valenzuela, Charlie Romero, Jordan Pace, Brett Fackiner each had two hits in the win.
Jordan Pace, Warren and Fackiner (2) all hit doubles and drove in three runs against the Apaches.
The same trio combined to toss a one-hit shutout with Warren the pitcher of record. The three hurlers combined to fan nine Apaches’ batters without surrendering a walk.
The Cats will open the state playoffs on May 5 at the Goodyear Baseball Complex.
Andrew Luberda began writing for Copper Area News Publishers (CANP) in February 2013 after working 15 years in Healthcare Financial Management. Andy covers sports for 11 high schools. His stories are published in Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner and Superior Sun, in addition to the San Tan Valley Daily PRSS and CopperArea websites. Additionally, he has written human interest stories and business profiles. In May 2012, he earned an AAS in Sports Management at Central Arizona College before graduating with a BS in Communication from Arizona State University in 2014. He and his wife, Kelli, have three sons – AJ, Kyle, and Kade.
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