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San Manuel Miner
Top-ranked Desert Christian ended the Miners’ four-game winning streak last week with a 8 – 0 win. The Miners were shutout for the first time this season.
The Miners, ranked fifth in the most current AIA rankings, defeated Globe and Miami earlier in the week.
In the 5 – 1 win over Miami last Wednesday, the Miners jumped out to an early 1 – 0 lead before seeing the Vandals tie the game in the fourth inning. The Miners responded by scoring three runs in their half of the fourth and adding another run in the fifth on their way to the victory.
Anthony Garcia and Shane Kelly each had 2 hits against the Vandals. Garcia was the winning pitcher, throwing a complete game one-hitter. He allowed an unearned run on the one hit, seven walks, and struck out nine Miami hitters.
The Miners have won eight of their last ten games heading into Tuesday’s sectional showdown with 7th-ranked Ray. The Miners beat the Bearcats in the first meeting between the teams on Apr. 4, 12 – 8. Shane Kelly and Anthony Garcia each homered in that game. Fransisco Median had three hits.
The regular season comes to an end for the Miners on Wednesday with a home game versus Bowie. The game is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.
After last year’s semi-finals appearance, the Miners are hoping to win a championship this year. They’ll begin their quest this weekend after the release of the State Championship Brackets on Thursday, May 1.
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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