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Copper Area News

The 2014-15 baseball and softball seasons recently ended as teams in four divisions were crowned state champions, including the Division IV Softball Champion Superior Panthers.

The Copper Corridor had arguably the largest contingent of players and coaches earning postseason honors as seven teams from the area were a part of this year’s state playoffs. In addition to Superior’s softball team were the Division IV Baseball State Runners Up Ray Bearcats, Superior baseball, San Manuel baseball, Division IV Softball State Runners Up San Manuel Miners, Ray softball, and Hayden softball.

Now that the season is officially over, different organizations, publications, and websites will begin announcing individual honors for players throughout the state.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) released its postseason honors last week, highlighted by two Division Coach of the Year honorees, two Section Coaches of the Year, and two Section Players of the Year from Copper Corridor teams.

The following is a list of players and coaches, by team, who received recognition for their performance this season:

Ray Baseball

• AIA Division IV Coach of the Year: Rene Pacheco

• AIA All-Division IV First Team: Destry Yocum and Derek Pacheco

• AIA Division IV Section VI Coach of the Year: Rene Pacheco

• AIA Division IV Section VI Player of the Year: Destry Yocum

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI First Team: Destry Yocum, Cole Yocum, and Derek Pacheco

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI Second Team: Douglas McPeak, Jordan Pace, Jacob Pace and Seth Harmon

Superior Baseball

• AIA All-Division IV First Team: Rickey Longoria

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI First Team: Rickey Longoria and Nicolaus Cruz

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI Second Team: Matthew Zavala and Austin Navarrette

San Manuel Baseball

• AIA All-Division IV Second Team: Francisco Medina

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI First Team: Francisco Medina, Bryan Valdez and Shane Kelly

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI Second Team: Christian Dietz and Manny Reynoso

Superior Softball

• AIA Division IV Coach of the Year: Martin Navarrette

• AIA All-Division IV First Team: Phalicitee Thomas, Gabby Salcido, Ariana San Miguel, Ivie Lopez and Cierra Navarrette (Utility Player)

• AIA All-Division IV Second Team: Cierra Navarrette (Infielder) and Hunter Flanagan

• AIA All-Division IV Honorable Mention: Jalisa Murray

• AIA Division IV Section VI Coach of the Year: Martin Navarrette

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI First Team: Analysse Juarez, Gabby Salcido, Cierra Navarrette (Infielder) and Ivie Lopez

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI Second Team: Jalisa Murray, Phalicitee Thomas, Hunter Flanagan, Ariana San Miguel and Cierra Navarrette (Utility)

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI Honorable Mention: Alicia Arriola, Marcelina Jimenez, Yuvithzia Romero and Angelina Vasquez

San Manuel Softball

• AIA All-Division IV First Team: Felicia Medina (Catcher), Alyssa Cuellar, Kadi Monfred and Nicole Encinas (Outfielder)

• AIA All-Division IV Second Team: Angela Navarro, Lyana Waddell, Nicole Encinas (Pitcher) and Felicia Medina (Utility)

• AIA All-Division IV Honorable Mention: Nikki Baldenegro and Mireya Tamayo

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI First Team: Felicia Medina (Catcher), Nikki Baldenegro, Alyssa Cuellar, Kadi Monfred, Angela Navarro, Nicole Encinas (Outfielder) and Lyana Waddell

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI Second Team: Felicia Medina (Infielder and Utility), Mireya Tamayo, and Nicole Encinas (Pitcher)

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI Honorable Mention: Mariah McBride, Dionne Ruiz, and Ashley Vargas

Ray Softball

• AIA All-Division IV First Team: Stormee Galka (Pitcher)

• AIA All-Division IV Second Team: Savannah Willis, Stormee Galka (Infielder) and Ashley Ortiz

• AIA All-Division IV Honorable Mention: Danni Montano

• AIA Division IV Section VI Player of the Year: Stormee Galka

• AIA Division IV All-Section First Team: Stormee Galka (Pitcher), Savannah Willis (Catcher), Danni Montano and Ashley Oritz

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI Second Team: Stormee Galka (Infielder) and Savannah Willis (Utility)

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI Honorable Mention: Nepeese Avechuco, Naomi Hing, Hannah McEuen, Gabbi Montano, Elisa Rodriguez and Elisa Romero

Hayden Softball

• AIA All-Division IV Second Team: Shannon Lagunas and Angelica Cabrera

• AIA All-Division IV Honorable Mention: Lexi Gomez, Jesse Lopez, and Casandra Westrope

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI Second Team: Casandra Westrope, Lexi Gomez, Shannon Lagunas, Angelica Cabrera and Jesse Lopez

• AIA Division IV All-Section VI Honorable Mention: Lauryn Bonner, Cheyanne Gaona, Brandi Lopez and Makayla Ramos

Andy Luberda (1149 Posts)

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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