by 
Last year’s stat championship team. Ray Barney | SMHS
San Manuel Miner
By any measure the San Manuel softball team, the defending back-to-back state champions, appear armed and ready to make it three-straight in 2015. The Lady Miners, who return 10 players with varsity experience, are the No. 1-ranked team in Division IV, according to the rankings released by azcentral.com on Mar. 2.
“We’re pretty solid,” Lady Miners’ fourth-year head coach Deanne Brewer recently told The Miner. “It’s just a matter of attitude; not being overconfident but, at the same time, having the confidence to do what we know we can do.”
Although Brewer didn’t address a three-peat during a recent an interview, there is little doubt her team has the talent and, perhaps more importantly, the experience to pull of the rare feat.
The Lady Miners return two of top players in the division in junior pitcher Lyana Waddell and senior co-captain Felicia Medina, one of four seniors on this year’s roster. The duo, along with junior Ashley Vargas, were first-team All-Division selections a year ago.
Waddell, the Section VI Co-Player of the Year in 2014, finished first in the section with 27 wins, second in ERA (1.51), and tied for first with 190 strikeouts.
Medina, a Central Arizona College signee, is coming off a shoulder injury she sustained near the end of last season. She returned in time for the state playoffs and, according to Brewer, is completely healthy for her final season at San Manuel.
She is the big bat in the Lady Miners’ lineup and Brewer believes she is the ultimate team player who can execute in any situation, including laying down a bunt if that’s what the team needs. Last year Medina ranked fifth in batting average (.539), second in RBI (48), and tied for second in runs scored (43.)
Senior Alyssa Cuellar, one of six returning Lady Miners who earned All-Section recognition last year and a Pima Community College signee, led the section in homeruns (10), RBI (52), slugging percentage (1.060), and was tied for second with teammate Medina in runs scored (43).
Senior co-captain Mireya Tamayo (2B), another All-Section selection last year, and Kadi Monfred (SS) are both four-year varsity players and make the Lady Miners strong up the middle defensively.
Junior Angela Navarro is the final returning All-Section Lady Miners’ player. Juniors Nicole Encinas and Maria McBride; sophomore Dionne Ruiz; and freshmen Clarissa Lizarraga, Nikki Baldenegro, and Daniela Guerrero round out the 2015 Lady Miners’ roster.
The Lady Miners started their season last week, participating in the 24-team Wrangler Softball Classic in Wickenburg. Many of the schools in the tournament are in higher divisions, but Brewer believes competing against those schools will benefit her team in the long run. After all, four teams in Section VI – San Manuel, Ray, Superior, and Hayden – all reached the state playoffs last year.
Additionally, Ray (No. 3) and Superior (No. 9) are also listed in the same azcentral.com rankings that have San Manuel at the top.
“As far as (Division IV), we definitely play in the toughest section,” Brewer acknowledged. “It’s been that way since I’ve been coaching.”
With two state championships in three years as the Lady Miners’ head coach, Brewer knows a thing or two about winning. She runs one of the most premier programs in the state, regardless of the division, and always has her team prepared in every aspect of the game.
What does she want her players to focus on from game to game in order for the team to have success?
“Focusing on the team aspect is the biggest thing for me,” she responded. “Sometimes we don’t need a homerun, we need a base hit. So we want to focus on what’s best for the team.”
“You might be a big hitter, but we still need you to execute a bunt,” she added, citing an example. “Knowing (the game situation) and being disciplined (is important).”
Upcoming schedule: Mar. 10 at Hayden, Mar. 16 at Tombstone, Mar. 17 vs. Hayden, and Mar. 18 at San Carlos. All games are scheduled for 4 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.
by by