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Kadi Monfred races for the ball. SMHS Staff
Mariah McBride catches. SMHS Staff
San Manuel Miner
The top-ranked San Manuel softball team extended its winning streak to 19 games with wins over Globe, Miami, and 7th-ranked Desert Christian last week. The Miners are one of three teams in Division IV with a 16 – 0 record in power-point games, according to the AIA website.
In the 19 – 2 win over Desert Christian last Thursday, the Miners scored in every inning on their way to the dominating victory.
Player of the Game Lyana Waddell faced 18 batters in the game and struck out half of them. She pitched five innings, allowing two runs – one earned, on three hits.
The Miners pounded out 17 hits, including seven extra-base hits. Felicia Medina and Mireya Tamayo had three hits each. Nicole Encinas, Angela Navarro, Lyana Waddell, and Mariah McBride each had two hits.
The Miners closed out their season on Tuesday with a game versus 6th-ranked Ray.
The state champs have played all season like a team ready to repeat. They’ll begin the defense of their title this weekend after the AIA releases the playoff brackets on Thursday, May 1 at 2:30 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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