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Ray High Bearcats
The defending state champion Ray softball team extended its season-long winning streak to nine games, defeating three teams last week that have their own state title aspirations.
In addition to a 10 – 0 won against 12th-ranked Valley Union last Friday, the Lady Cats also defeated rival and third-ranked Superior as well as San Manuel, the No. 6 team in the 2A rankings, last Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
Janae Ruiz homered and Tara Lorona went 2-for-4, including a triple, with three RBI to lead the Lady Cats to a 12 – 2 win over Superior. Five Lady Cats had two hits in the game, including Ruiz, Lorona. Ema Alverado, Daniella Hinojos, and Haily Mabuce, who drove in a game-high four runs.
Hinojos was stellar in the circle, as usual. The Lady Cats’ ace allowed two runs – both unearned – on three hits in six innings of work. She whiffed eight Lady Panthers’ hitters and walked two. The win was the sophomore’s 15th of the season.
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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