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The San Manuel Jr. High softball team was off to a 5 – 0 start to its season when the pandemic first prematurely interrupted it, then subsequently ended it.
“My team is sad, but we need to be safe,” head coach Ernie Ivy told the San Manuel Miner in a text.
The Jr. Lady Miners had outscored their opponents by a combined score of 87 – 8 in their five wins.
“The girls had great attitude and good work ethic,” Ivy answered, when asked to what he attributed the team’s success. “We put in work in the summer and it was paying off. The coaches worked (well) with each other and the girls.”
Ivy didn’t hold back when asked about his team’s potential and what may have been if not for the pandemic.
“Making the championship tournament and taking home the trophy,” he responded.
Just like the rest of the world, the Lady Jr. Miners learned a life lesson amid tragedy.
“Sometimes things are hard, and goals are postponed but never completely taken away,” Ivy said.
Congratulations to the 2020 San Manuel Jr. High softball team for a great season.
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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