Four Yuma County seniors shine in 6A All-Star Game victory

UPDATED Jun. 1

GOODYEAR, Ariz. (KYMA) -Several of Yuma County's top high school baseball players had one final opportunity to represent their schools and community at the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association 6A All-Star Game.

Cibola's Rodrigo Orozco, San Luis pitcher Luis Cunningham and Kofa standouts Julio Reina and Ryan Rosas were selected to participate in the event, which brings together many of Arizona's top ballplayers for one final showcase of high school talent.

For Rosas, simply sharing the field with some of the state's best players was an honor.

"It's definitely an honor," Rosas said. "Going out there playing against some of the best talent in Arizona was very exciting."

The experience extended beyond the game itself. Players were given access to areas of the stadium typically reserved for professionals, including batting cages and other behind-the-scenes facilities.

"I think the coolest thing about this stadium in particular was we got more of an inside, big league tour," Rosas said. "We were able to go down into the cages and stuff and swing. It was just an honor because at any other stadium you don't get that opportunity."

For Reina, the event marked his first time competing in a Major League Baseball venue, making the experience even more memorable.

"It was very awesome," Reina said. "All my family, my sister, my parents, all my friends from Kofa, too. It was a great experience because I think it was my first time playing in an MLB stadium."

Playing in a professional ballpark came with its own challenges. Rosas said the environment, and change in depth perception made pitches appear faster and the field play differently than what he was accustomed to.

"It's crazy because the stadium just makes everything go faster," Rosas said. "Some dude was throwing probably 84, and it felt like 93."

For Cunningham, the all-star selection represented the culmination of years of perseverance. After seeing limited playing time during his first three seasons at San Luis High School, he emerged as one of Arizona's top players as a senior. Cunningham earned second-team All-State honors and was recognized among the state's top 30 players.

"It was unexpected," Cunningham said. "When my coach told me after the last game of the season, I was amazed. My parents didn't have words to describe the excitement. It's absolutely amazing to be part of the top 30."

The recognition was meaningful, but so was the opportunity to wear a San Luis uniform one final time before beginning his collegiate career at Mesa Community College.

"It was amazing to be able to get my San Luis uniform on one last time and retire the uniform in an amazing way," Cunningham said.

While each player reached the event through different paths, they shared a common sense of pride in representing Yuma County on one of the biggest stages of their high school careers.

"It was a great experience because we're representing not only our school," Reina said. "It was the community, too. All of Yuma."

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GOODYEAR, Ariz. (KYMA) - Four of Yuma County's top high school baseball seniors had one final opportunity to represent the region and made the most of it at the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association 6A All-Star Game.

Cibola's Rodrigo Orozco, San Luis standout Luis Cunningham, and Kofa's Julio Reina and Ryan Rosas were selected to participate in the annual showcase featuring some of Arizona's best baseball talent.

The local standouts helped lead the North Region to a 13-7 victory over the South Region, closing out their high school careers on a winning note.

Cunningham contributed on both sides of the game, recording a few strikeouts on the mound while also collecting two hits at the plate.

Rosas turned in a strong offensive performance as well, finishing 2-for-3 with a single and a double.

For Rosas, the experience was about more than the final score.

"It was definitely an honor," Rosas said. "Going out there playing against some of the best talent in Arizona. It was very exciting. It was an honor to compete. Had fun while I was out there. Not really trying too hard. Just enjoying the moment."

Reina also delivered one of the game's standout defensive plays, making a diving stop in the field to help showcase the talent coming out of Yuma County.

The All-Star Game gave the four seniors one last chance to compete alongside and against some of the state's top players before moving on to the next chapter of their baseball careers.

The group left a strong impression, helping the North Region secure the win while representing Yuma County on one of Arizona's biggest high school baseball stages.