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The defending Division V state champion and top-ranked Superior softball team extended its winning streak to seven games after wins against Duncan and Miami earlier last week. The streak ended after a 16 – 6 loss last Friday to Apache Junction, the sixth-ranked team in Division III.
The loss was only the second of the season for Lady Panthers, who are now 14 – 2.
Phalicitee Thomas, Gabby Salcido, and Lindsay Ketron each homered in the Lady Panthers’ lopsided 25 – 5 win at Duncan last Tuesday.
Thomas, a senior, had three hits in as many at bats and drove in three runs in the win. Salcido, a Paradise Valley CC commit, went 3-for-4 including a double in addition to her seventh homerun of the season. The Lady Panthers’ shortstop also had two RBI, tying Thomas with 24 RBI to lead the team. Ketron, a freshman, also had three RBI in the game.
Yuvithzia Romero, a sophomore, had two hits and four RBI in the win while Alicia Arriola and Ariana San Miguel also had two hits apiece.
Arriola pitched a complete game, allowing only one hit despite surrendering two unearned runs. She walked four and struck out seven Wildkats’ hitters.
Upcoming schedule: Apr. 14 at Ft. Thomas and Apr. 19 vs. Alchesay. Both 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.
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