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  The conclusion of the 2018 baseball and softball seasons means the release of postseason honors by several publications and organizations throughout the state. Players and coaches in and around the Copper Corridor area were recognized for their performance this season.

  The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) and Arizona Baseball Coaches Association (AzBCA) recently released All-Conference, All-Region and All-State honors, respectively.

  The following is a list of players, by team, who received recognition for their efforts:

Baseball

Ray

AzBCA 1A All-State 1^st Team – Anthony Lopez, Fabian Valenzuela, and Richard Valenzuela.

AzBCA 1A All-State 2^nd Team – Jaden Pace and Derek Figueroa.

AzBCA Field of the Year – Ray HS

AIA 1A Conference Defensive Player of the Year – Richard Valenzuela.

AIA 1A All-Conference 1^st Team – Anthony Lopez, Fabian Valenzuela, and Richard Valenzuela.

AIA 1A All-Conference 2^nd Team – Jaden Pace and Derek Figueroa.

AIA 1A East Region Coach of the Year – Frank Lechuga.

AIA 1A East Region Defensive Player of the Year – Richard Valenzuela.

AIA 1A East Region Player of the Year – Fabian Valenzuela.

AIA 1A East All-Region 1^st Team – Derek Figueroa, Anthony Lopez, Richard Valenzuela, Jaden Pace, and Fabian Valenzuela.

AIA 1A East All-Region 2^nd Team – Morgan Bray, Alex Bravo and Cody Hickingbottom.

Superior

AzBCA 1A All-State 1^st Team – Kale Major and Steven Ybarra.

AIA 1A All-Conference 1st Team – Kale Major and Steven Ybarra.

AIA 1A All-Conference 2^nd Team – Jesus Castellanos.

AIA 1A East All-Region 1^st Team – Steven Ybarra, Jesus Castellanos and Kale Major.

AIA 1A East All-Region 2^nd Team – Daniel McConnell, Gabriel Garcia and Gabe Otero.

Hayden

AzBCA 1A All-State 2^nd Team – Mario Mariscal.

AIA 1A All-Conference 2^nd Team – Mario Mariscal.

AIA 1A East All-Region 1^st Team – Mario Mariscal, Mychael Mariscal, Omar Lopez, and Jorge Rodriguez.

AIA 1A East All-Region 2^nd Team – Robert Bohrn, Joel Rodriguez and Manuel Guillen.

San Manuel

AIA 2A South All-Region 2^nd Team – Javy Tamayo, A.J. Castillo and Alejandro Camacho.

AIA 2A South Region Honorable Mention – Louis Chavez and Javy Tamayo.

Softball

Superior

AIA 1A Conference Player of the Year – Kiki Arriola.

AIA 1A All-Conference 1^st Team – Kiki Arriola, Marisa Estatico, Anisah Cardenas, Tori Juarez, and Lindsay Ketron.

AIA 1A All-Conference 2^nd Team – DeAndrian Bogenschutz and Analysse Jaurez.

AIA 1A East Region Player of the Year – Kiki Arriola.

AIA 1A East All-Region 1^st Team – Kiki Arriola, Tori Juarez, Marisa Estatico, Lindsay Ketron, and Anisah Cardenas.

AIA 1A East All-Region 2^nd Team – DeAndrian Bogenschutz, Korrina Romero and Yuvithzia Romero.

Ray

AIA 1A Conference Defensive Player of the Year – Janae Ruiz.

AIA 1A All-Conference 1^st Team – Daniella Hinojos, Tara Lorona and Janae Ruiz.

AIA 1A All-Conference 2^nd Team – Ema Alvarado and Julie Meza.

AIA 1A East Region Offensive Player of the Year – Tara Lorona.

AIA 1A East All-Region 1^st Team – Daniella Hinojos, Ema Alvarado, Janae Ruiz, and Tara Lorona.

AIA 1A East All-Region 2^nd Team – Julie Meza, Shelby Yocum, Danni Montano, and Chelsea Boyd-Flores.

Hayden

AIA 1A All-Conference 2^nd Team – Brandi Lopez and Jaden Gonzales.

AIA 1A East Region Coach of the Year – Gene Westrope.

AIA 1A East Region Defensive Player of the Year – Brandi Lopez.

AIA 1A East All-Region 1^st Team – Ahleah Arbizo, Brandi Lopez and Jaden Gonzales.

AIA 1A East All-Region 2^nd Team – Julianna Hong and Aliyana Perez.

San Manuel

AIA 2A All-Conference Honorable Mention – Andrea Guerrero.

AIA 2A South Region Defensive Player of the Year – Andrea Guerrero.

AIA 2A South All-Region 1^st Team – Andrea Guerrero.

AIA 2A South All-Region 2^nd Team – Clarissa Lizarraga and Angelique Laguna.

Andy Luberda (1149 Posts)

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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