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Ray Junior High School Champion Baseball Team
The Ray Jr. High baseball team avenged its only loss of the season, defeating the Miami Vandals 3 – 2 to win the Central Junior High League Championship in Miami on Apr. 22.
After an undefeated season ended with a loss in the CJHL championship game a year ago, the Bearcats made it back to the same spot this season but it wasn’t easy.
The Jr. Cats needed extra innings to beat a determined Eloy team in the semifinals, 9 – 8.
In the championship game, the Jr. Cats scored all three runs in the first inning and made it hold up, allowing Miami to get close but not enough to get over the top.
Congratulations to the Ray Jr. Bearcats’ players and coaches, which include Ally Hing, Tracon Naranjo, Alex Bravo, Jacob Barajas, Mark Rodriguez, Cody Hickingbottom, Johnny Chester, Derek Figueroa, Johnavon Pace, Alec Carrillo, Jack Warren, student manager Michael Warren, Head Coach Randy Rodriguez and Assistant Coach Stephen Naranjo.
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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