Holbrook’s baseball team has won two games since returning from the break and is in the midst of a four-game win streak heading into this week’s action.
The Roadrunners’ prowess on the diamond continued last Tuesday against the 2A Round Valley Elks in Eagar. The Holbrook squad started a bit slow, scoring its first run in the top of the third, but Tristan Baldonado pitched well, limiting the Elks to just one run in the 11-1 Holbrook victory.
The Birds increased their lead to 5-1 through four innings, then finished the game off in the sixth by scoring six runs.
Baldonado worked the first five innings on the mound, allowing just one run on one hit with 10 strikeouts and five walks. Justin Perkins came on in relief for one inning and gave up no runs on two hits with a strikeout.
At the plate, Holbrook scored 11 runs on 14 hits led by Ryan Short, who went 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs and scoring twice. Cole McDaniel was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and scored twice. Frankie Ulibarri also went 2 for 4 and scored once. Michael Queiruga went 2 for 3 and scored twice. Gabe Gabaldon was 1 for 2 with an RBI double and scored once. Zach Reyes went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Perkins went 1 for 4.
Hosting Blue Ridge on Friday afternoon, the Birds prevailed in a pitchers duel, defeating the Yellowjackets 1-0 and moving their region record to 1-1.
Holbrook scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the sixth when Short’s RBI brought home Perkins.
Perkins was stellar on the mound, giving up just five hits with six strikeouts and a pair of walks in a complete game performance.
The Roadrunners scattered eight hits, all singles, with McDaniel, Cade Maestas, Jalen Nez, Ulibarri, Short, Gabaldon, Perkins and Reyes each collecting a hit.
With the win the Birds improved to 12-2 overall and they are 8-1 in power point contests. With the first set of rankings due to be released this week, they should definitely begin inside the top 10 in the rankings. They were slated to play at Show Low on Tuesday and will be in Snowflake on Friday. On Saturday they return home to host Monument Valley. Next Tuesday they will host Winslow.
