Playing their only game of the week on March 26, the Lady Bulldogs out lasted visiting Blue Ridge 12-6, pushing their regular season mark to 5-2.
That record found them ranked ninth in the 3A power points when first rankings of the season were released on Tuesday morning. East region foes Show Low (second), Snowflake, third); Holbrook, 10th; Blue Ridge, 14th; and Payson, 17th. The teams being ranked so high in the initial rankings shows the toughness, at least early on of the east region.
In the Blue Ridge game, Winslow jumped out to an early four run lead with a good first inning. The Jackets scored once in the top of the second only to see Winslow counter with one in the second and four more in the fourth to lead 11-1 heading to the fifth.
Blue Ridge avoided the 10-run rule with three runs in the top of the fifth. Winslow went on to win the game in seven innings, 12-6.
The Lady Bulldogs pounded out 15 hits, with four of those being for extra bases. Justine Butterfield blasted a home run, Harleigh Scott had a triple, Adrianna Yazzie and Jordyn Johnson each had doubles.
Morgan Thomas went 2 for 4; Alyssa Barton, 2 for 4; Chloe Wilcox, 2 for 4; Harleigh Scott, 2 for 4; Jordyn Johnson, 2 for 5; Justine Butterfield, 1 for 4; Maycee Cunningham, 1 for 4; and Brooke Williams was 1 for 2.
Butterfield went the distance in the circle where she faced 35 Yellowjacket batters. She gave up six runs on only four hits with 11 strikeouts and walked five.
After having the rest of this week off the Bulldogs returned to the softball diamond on Monday when they hosted Coconino. Tuesday they wrapped up a three-game home stand by hosting a streaking Holbrook team ranked right behind them in the rankings.
