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Ray’s Elma Alvarado puts down a successful squeez bunt than scored a run during the Lady Cats win at Superior.
The then third-ranked Ray softball team entered last Wednesday’s regular season finale against then top-ranked and defending State Champion Superior with a chance to win the Section V Championship.
In similar big games during previous seasons, the Lady Cats have been on the short-end of these types of games, but this year has been different as evidenced by their 7 – 5 victory that made them the Section V Champions and the eventual No. 1-seed in the Division V State Playoffs.
“We played as a team and that’s how we won,” Ray head coach Rikki Galka said after the game. “We needed this win. We needed this win against this team. It’s been a head-game for us since last year.”
Player of the Year candidate Stormee Galka pitched six-and-a-third innings, allowing only one run during the first six. But in the seventh inning, the Lady Panthers touched up the Maryville University commit for four runs, leaving a feeling that another heartbreaking loss in a big game was forthcoming.
Rikki new her star player, and daughter, was tiring so she made the pitching change, calling for freshman phenom Daniella Hinojos to close out the win.
“We needed this win,” Stormee answered when asked what it was like to finally break through after several disappointing losses in similar situations. “I know it helps build confidence in our team whenever we beat a team like this because whenever we lose and go into games like this our confidence is low.”
Ray jumped out to an early lead by scoring four runs in the third inning off Superior ace Ivie Lopez. The Lady Cats extended their lead in the fifth after Ema Alverado’s squeeze bunt scored Janae Ruiz.
Superior answered with a run on an RBI-single by Salcido in its half of the fifth, before Ray scored two more runs to make 7 – 1 in the sixth.
Ray held a 7 – 5 lead in the Superior seventh with the bases full of Lady Panthers’ runners and only one out. Superior’s next hitter flied out right and the runner at third tried to tag up but was thrown out at the plate to complete the game-ending double play.
The loss ended Superior’s 15-section game winning streak that dated back to last season.
“This was a good test for us, being down like that,” Superior head coach Martin Navarrette said. “It showed what kind of heart our girls (have). I think that’s going to be very important going into the playoffs this year.”
These two teams are the class of the division and are favorites to meet for the Division V Championship later this month.
Ray won this battle, but the war is not over.
“Last year we went in as the No.5 seed,” Navarrette said. “We went through the best teams and we had the toughest road (to the championship). So we’ve done it once (and) I don’t see any reason why we can’t do it again.”
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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