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Ray High Bearcats
The fifth-ranked Ray baseball team extended its winning streak to four games, improving to 13 – 3 after wins last week against Mogollon and Duncan. The Cats have won seven of their last nine games.
In the 6 – 4 win at Mogollon last Tuesday, John Wernett’s two-run homerun highlighted a four-run fourth inning for the Cats. The four-run lead made things comfortable for Player of the Game Austin Huffman, who pitched a complete game to earn the victory.
Jordan Pace went 2-for-4 for Ray, which made all of its six hits productive.
Cats’ head coach Frank Lechuga was especially pleased with his team’s defense, which turned a game-ending double play to end a Mustangs’ scoring threat and preserve the win.
Starting pitcher Noah Warren picked a complete-game victory in the Cats 11 – 1 win against visiting Duncan last Friday. The Bearcats’ junior allowed a run on five hits and whiffed nine Wildkats’ hitter in the five-inning outing. Warren also helped himself at the plate after three hits in as many at bats. Brett Fackiner had two hits, one of them a double, and an RBI while Jordan Pace also had two hits with two RBI. Fabian Valenzuela hit a two-run triple and John Wernett hit an RBI-double for the Cats.
Upcoming schedule: Apr. 12 at Miami and Apr. 15 vs. San Carlos. 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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