Greg Perkins
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Holbrook’s softball team is off to a bit of a slow start with a 1-3 mark through their first four games. Head Coach Scott Baker has a relatively young roster this year with only four seniors on the 16-player roster. Elaina Gray, Hailey Guttery, Canela Queiruga and Jovon Boling are the upper classmen. Juniors on the team are, Jelena Despain, Olivia Baldonado, Holly Hill, Madison Chappell, Liyah Ethelbah, and Gabrielle Tyler. Sophomores, Jyllian Hall, Aubrianna Begay, and Lorna Spencer are joined by freshmen, Talyssa Larson, Ashley Spears and Tiffani Tyler on the varsity team.
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Holbrook opened the season on Feb. 26 with a home field loss to Chino Valley. The game was originally supposed to be in Chino Valley but poor field conditions moved the game to Holbrook. The Roadrunners took the early lead with two in the top of the first. The Cougars regrouped and overtook the Lady Birds with a four run second inning. Holbrook added one more to it’s total in the third, but the Cougars put the game out of reach with five third-inning runs. Holbrook tried to mount a challenge in the sixth, scoring twice. Chino Valley put the game away with six runs in the fifth to win the game 15-5 under the 10-run mercy rule.
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Gabrielle Tyler was clutch at the plate going three for three with an RBI. Guttery, Tiffani Tyler and Chappell each went one for three; and Hill and Queiruga were both one for two. Queiruga had two RBI with a home run.
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Holbrook used three different pitchers in the loss. Baldonado worked three innings giving up nine runs on three hits with one strikeout and walked two. Tiffani Tyler worked 1.2 innings allowing five runs on two hits with three strikeouts and walked three. Hailey Guttery pitched one third of an inning allowing one run on three hits.
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Hosting St. Johns the following day, Holbrook scored twice in the home half of the first inning and held that lead until the top of the fourth. The Redskins scored four runs in the fourth to overtake the Birds. Holbrook pulled closer with one in the bottom of the fourth. St. Johns opened the game up with seven runs in the top of the fifth. Holbrook managed just one in the fifth and lost the game 11-4.
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Queiruga went three for four with two RBI. Chappell also went three for four, including a triple and a double. Chappell also stole one base. Guttery was one for four; Gabrielle Tyler, one for three, with a double; and Boling went one for three.
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Guttery worked five innings in the circle giving up 11 runs on 13 hits with one strikeout and walked three. Tiffani Tyler pitched two innings allowing no runs or hits.
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Holbrook picked up their first win of the season on Saturday in Chinle. The Roadrunners defeated the Wildcats 18-8 in the first game of a double header. Unfortunately they gave that win back with a 16-17 loss to Chinle in the second game of the twin bill leaving Holbrook with a 1-3 overall record heading into this week.
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After playing at Ganado on Monday, the team will open East Region play on Wednesday when they host Show Low.
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