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Superior Panthers
The third-ranked Superior baseball team slugged nine of its 11 hits for extra bases in last Tuesday’s 11 – 1 mercy-rule victory against visiting Arete Prep. With the win, the Panthers remain undefeated (5 – 0) in the 1A East Region and atop the standings.
Junior Gabe Castillo starred at the plate and on the mound, hitting a pair of doubles and earning the complete-game win after fanning 11 Chargers’ batters.
Castillo was one of three Panthers’ hitters to hit two doubles – Matthew Cruz and Daniel McConnell, who also tripled, were the others. Gabe Otero and Adam Navarrette also hit doubles in the game. Cruz, a freshman, went 3-for-3 with two RBI’s.
Castillo, who was making his third start of the season, won his third-straight decision after scattering five hits in six innings pitched, allowing an earned run with a walk to go along with the 11 K’s.
Up next: Apr. 5 vs. Hayden and Apr. 9 vs. Ft. Thomas. Both games are scheduled for 4 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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