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The top-ranked and defending state champion Superior softball team has now won four-straight games after wins against Alchesay and No. 8 Pima last week.
Since a 16 – 6 loss on Apr. 8 to Apache Junction – the fifth-ranked team in Division III – the Lady Panthers have won four consecutive games by at least 10 runs or more. They won the four games before Apache Junction by double-digits as well.
It’s safe to say to the champs are peaking at the right time, looking for all the world like a team that intends to win back-to-back state championships.
Senior ace Ivie Lopez was on her game in the 11 – 1 win at Pima last Thursday, tossing a complete game and surrendering only an unearned on eight scattered hits with two walks and 10 strikeouts.
Phalicitee Thomas provided all the run support Lopez would need with one swing of the bat, hitting a three-run home run to make her lone hit of the game a big one.
Superior hit four doubles in the game, including two by Paradise Valley commit Gabby Salcido. Arianna San Miguel and Yuvithzia Romero hit the Lady Panthers’ other two-base hits in the game. San Miguel and Tori Juarez each had two RBI against the Roughriders.
The Lady Panthers wrap up the regular season this week with games at Hayden and a home game versus No. 3 Ray, game that could be a preview of the 2016 Division V State Championship.
We’ll see.
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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