Holbrook went 4-1 at the Route 66 Tournament held at River Valley High School over the weekend. The Roadrunners opened play with a pair of games on Thursday. First up they defeated Needles, Calif., by a final of 7-2. Holbrook broke a 2-2 tie with five runs in the bottom of the fifth and final inning to get the win. Cole McDaniel and Justin Perkins each led the way with two hits. Both of Perkins’ hits were doubles. Frankie Ulibarri worked four and two-thirds innings giving up two runs on three hits. Perkins pitched for one out giving up two hits.
Later in the day the Birds took on Pahrump Valley, Nev., and came away with a 6-4 win. The game, which went just four innings, was tied at 2-2 after the second inning. Holbrook scored twice in the third and two more in the fourth, which ended up being enough. Pahrump scored twice in the fourth as well, but couldn’t make up the two run deficit. Ulibarri and Ryan Short each had two hits. Jalen Nez and Perkins worked together to get the win on the hill giving up four runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and walked five.
Early Friday morning Holbrook took care of Chino Valley 4-2. The Roadrunners led 2-1 after the first and 4-1 after the third. Chino Valley scored just once in the fifth to get the loss. The Cougars out hit Holbrook 7-3, but those hits were scattered.
Perkins earned the win on the hill working five innings. He gave up the two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. On Friday afternoon, Holbrook suffered their only loss of the tournament falling 5-1 to Southwest El Centro, Calif. The Eagles scored twice in the bottom of the first. Holbrook scored their only run in the third. Holbrook was held to just two hits by the Southwest team pitching. Nez and Short were the only two players to get hits. Gabriel fiveanez took the loss on the hill. He worked six innings giving up 5 runs on four hits with five strikeouts and walked two.
Holbrook’s final game of the tournament came on Saturday morning where they soundly defeated Many Farms 15-1 in four innings.
McDaniel led the way at the dish going 3 for 3 with a double and 3 RBI; Jalen Nez went 2 for 3. McDaniel got the win on the hill working three innings giving up just one run on one hit with three strikeouts and he walked two.
After traveling to Page for a double header on Tuesday, the Roadrunners will have the rest of the week off for spring break. They will return to the diamond on March 20 when they host Round Valley.
Holbrook is currently 8-2 overall and they are 4-1 in regular season contests.
