by 
Copper Basin News
It’s difficult to find a weakness in a team currently ranked sixth in their division, but a little nitpicking will reveal the Bearcats need to be more consistent. A look at their recent results will support that fact.
The Bearcats have lost four of their last seven games, but it’s not the record that’s most important in those games. What is important is the fact that all four of those losses have come against teams currently ranked in the top 10 of the division rankings – San Manuel, Superior, St. David, and Valley Union.
Three of those four losses were by one run and the other, to Valley Union, was by a score of 3 – 0. All of them were close and winnable games. The scores in two of the three victories were 16 – 0 and 25 – 1. They beat Walden Grove, a Division III team, 3 – 1.
So, you see, with a little more consistency against the top-ranked teams – playoff teams – the ‘Cats can achieve their goal of a State Championship.
“My girls know they can play,” head coach Rikki Galka told theCopper Basin News, aware she coaches a championship-caliber team. “But they have to do it as a team.”
The Bearcats suffered a heartbreaking, extra-inning loss to top-ranked Superior on Apr. 8, 5 – 4. It was their second straight one-run loss after losing to 2nd-ranked San Manuel on Apr. 4, 3 – 2.
Superior’s Gabby Salcido scored the winning run on passed ball in the bottom of the eighth to give the Panthers the victory. The ‘Cats defeated the Panthers earlier this season at the Salt River Tournament, 7 – 3.
“Both teams are good teams,” Galka said after the loss to Superior. “The Panthers came to play. We had some good hits, but we need consistency from everyone.”
With the playoffs approaching, the ‘Cats need to step up to the challenge and be more consistent. A little can take them a long way.
All the way to a championship, as a matter of fact.
Upcoming schedule: Apr. 17 vs Hayden at 4:00 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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