The Roadrunners dropped their region game at Winslow on Tuesday last week but bounced back to win two of three games at the Epic Tourney in Chandler over the weekend.
Facing the Bulldogs in Tuesday’s game, Holbrook started well enough with a single run in the first, but the home team pushed across eight runs in the bottom of the opening frame to set the tone for the rest of the game. Following one second-inning run from Winslow, Holbrook scored their second and last run in the top of the third. Winslow added five in the third and two more in the second, cruising to the 16-2 five-inning win.
Holbrook managed just five hits in the loss. Marcus Oberriter went 1 for 3, with a double; Isaac Martinez, 2 for 3; Conner Winn, 1 for 2; and Kyle Smith went 1 for 3.
Smith, Izzy Ramos, and Winn all pitched in the game collectively giving up 16 runs on 15 hits with four strikeouts and walking one Winslow batter.
The team traveled to Chandler on Thursday where they faced Alchesay in the opening bracket play. Neither team scored in the first two innings. Following an Alchesay run in the top of the third, Holbrook pushed in three runs in each of the third and fourth innings. The Falcons scored once in the fifth, leaving Holbrook with the 6-2 win.
Oberriter went 2 for 3; Martinez, 1 for 3; Niko Espitia, 2 for 3 with a double; Heston Reidhead, 1 for 2 with a triple; Hunter Love, 1 for 3 with a double; Bryson Autobee, 1 for 3; and Ramos went 2 for 3 with a triple.
Smith pitched 3.2 innings, giving up 1 run on 2 hits with a pair of walks and three strikeouts. Winn also allowed one run on two hits with one walk.
The Alchesay win advanced Holbrook to the semi-final round where they defeated Chandler Prep 13-6. The Titans scored four first-inning runs, but Holbrook countered with three of their own. In the second, the Roadrunners put the game out of reach scoring ten runs.
Oberriter went 1 for 3; Espitia,1 for 1 with a double; Reidhead, 1 for 2, as was Love. Ramos went 2 for 3 with a double.
Winn pitched three innings allowing four runs on four hits, with two walks and had five strikeouts. Josh LeSueur pitched one inning giving up two runs on two hits.
With that win, Holbrook advanced to the championship round of their bracket where they met region foe, Blue Ridge. The Jackets took the early lead with one in the first. Holbrook matched that with a second-inning run. Both teams scored single runs in the fourth, then Blue Ridge broke the 2-2 tie with two sixth-inning runs to win the game 4-2.
Winn, Smith and Espitia each went 1 for 2. Ramos was 1 for 3. Ramos pitched all six innings giving up the four runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
Including tournament play, the Roadrunners head into this week’s action with a 9-6 overall record. They are 5-4 in regular season contests and will play only power point games the rest of the way. Blue Ridge will be their first of those opponents when Holbrook hosts the Yellowjackets on Thursday this week. Snowflake comes to town the following day. Next week Holbrook will travel to Show Low on Tuesday, then welcome in Winslow on Thursday and Payson on Friday.
Holbrook entered this week ranked 24th in the 3A rankings.
