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Lady Panthers’ Cierra Navarrette at the plate.
Kelli Luberda | Sun
Lady Panthers’ head coach Martin Navarrette gives his team some instructions.
Kelli Luberda | Sun
Superior Sun
After starting the season with eight consecutive victories, the Lady Panthers lost their first game of the season last Saturday. The Ray Bearcats defeated the Lady Panthers in the Salt River Tournament, 6 – 3.
“We knew Ray was going to be a good team so we just needed to grind it out,” head coach Martin Navarrette said after the game. “We needed to get hits in critical situations. We got some but (not enough). They just had a better day than we did.”
The Bearcats held the Lady Panthers to their lowest scoring output of the season, but their head coach knows his team has the talent and ability to bounce back.
“It’s all about the team concept,” Navarrette answered when asked how his team has improved from last season.
To some, the Lady Panthers may have exceeded expectations but not to their coach who has a good explanation for their early season success.
“They hustle and they give 110 percent so I’m definitely proud of the girls,” Navarrette said. “Every game that we win they’re getting more confidence and it’s showing.”
Upcoming schedule: April 2 vs. Hayden and April 4 at Ft. Thomas. Both games are scheduled for 4:00 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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