by 
Copper Basin News
The Ray softball team advanced to the semi-finals of the Division IV State Championship by winning both games it played last weekend. The Lady ‘Cats won a 1 – 0 pitcher’s duel versus 13-th seeded Phoenix Country Day last Friday before defeating 5th-seeded Superior on Saturday, 7 – 3.
“They performed well, especially in the first game,” Bearcats head coach Rikki Galka answered when asked about her team’s performance last weekend. “It took a total team effort to beat Phoenix Country Day.”
In Friday’s game, the Bearcats scored a run in the first and pitcher Stormee Galka made it hold up, limiting the Eagles to four hits in the complete game shutout.
Saturday’s game versus Superior was the fourth game of the season between the schools. The Bearcats won for the third time and eliminated the Panthers from postseason play in the process. Again, Stormee Galka was the winning pitcher, limiting a potent Panthers’ offense to only three runs.
Next up for the Lady ‘Cats is 9th-seeded Valley Christian, which defeated top-seeded Arizona Lutheran on Saturday to advance to the semis. The Trojans have won three straight games in the tournament so far, defeating Joseph City, Valley Union, and Arizona Lutheran.
The semi-final game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday night at the Rose Mofford Softball Complex – Field #2 – in Phoenix.
“I don’t know much about Valley Christian,” Galka said. “But it’s going to take another total team effort and we have to stay focused to win.”
With a win, the Bearcats would face the winner between San Manuel and Veritas Prep in the Championship Game on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
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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