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Superior softball seniors Lt to Rt – Gabby Salcido, Phalicitee Thomas, Keanna Torres, Ivie Lopez, and Ariana San Miguel.
The Superior softball team’s own version of the “Fab Five” was honored last Wednesday before playing the final home game of their high school careers. Gabby Salcido, Pinky Thomas, Keanna Torrres, Ivie Lopez, and Ariana San Miguel helped take the Lady Panthers’ softball program from worst-to-first since their arrival on campus four years ago.
“These seniors that we have, they’ve been big since they were freshmen,” Superior head coach Martin Navarrette said. “They came up playing club ball and brought it over to the high-school level.”
“They’ve been outstanding,” he added. “It’s going to be a big loss to have these girls graduate and move on to college.”
The “Fab Five” originated as the the nickname for the 1991 University of Michigan men’s basketball team recruiting class that is considered by many to be “the greatest class ever recruited.”
But the Wolverines never won a National Championship with their “Fab Five.” The Lady Panthers own one state title and are the odds-on favorite to win their second-straight Division V State Championship.
“I didn’t even know how we were even going to go to the championship game because we started from the bottom,” Salcido said after last Wednesday game versus Ray. “But we (did). I love my team, I love my girls, and I wish I (wasn’t) going to leave, but I’m excited for the future.”
Salcido’s future includes continuing her softball career after accepting a scholarship offer from Paradise Valley CC. The Lady Panthers’ future figures to benefit from the legacy left behind by their version of the “Fab Five.”
“I think they set the bar high,” Navarrette said about the five graduating seniors. “I think all the younger girls – little league and junior high – see the expectation and it should drive them to improve and get better.”
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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