by 
San Manuel Miner
One first caused another for the third-seeded Lady Miners softball team in Monday’s Division IV State Championship game versus fifth-seeded Superior.
For the first time this season the Lady Miners were shutout, resulting in them not being crowned as state champions for the first time in three years.
Superior sophomore pitcher Ivie Lopez threw a complete-game four-hit shutout against San Manuel, one of best of hitting teams in the state with a .442 batting average.
The Miners were trying for their 10th state softball championship.
“We’re better hitters than that,” San Manuel head coach Deanne Brewer told azcentral sports after the 4 – 0 loss. “It’s an honor to be here, obviously. We’re just a little disappointed because we thought we’d come out a little better.”
The Miners had their best opportunity to score some runs off Lopez in the sixth, when they loaded the bases with two outs, but the threat ended when Nicole Encinas lined out sharply to Superior shortstop Gabby Salcido.
Miners’ ace pitcher Lyana Waddell pitched well, holding the Panthers to only one run through five innings. She allowed only three runs on seven hits in the game while striking out four. A two run homer off the bat of Superior’ Phalicitee Thomas in the sixth inning was the big blow in the game.
The Miners stranded 10 runners on base during the game, further failing to help their cause.
San Manuel finished its state runner-up season with a record of 23 – 7.
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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