The Roadrunners are mired in a five-game losing streak following region losses to Show Low and Payson last week. Facing the Cougars in Show Low on Tuesday night, Holbrook started well enough with two first-inning runs. Show Low countered with five in the home half of the frame. The Cougars extended their lead with a single run in the third followed by four more in the fourth to lead 10-2. Both teams scored three runs in the fifth. Holbrook tried to make a late rally with six runs in the top of the sixth. Show Low added one in the sixth then shut Holbrook down in the seventh to preserve the 14-11 win.
Marcus Oberriter went 3 for 4. Isaac Martinez was also 3 for 4. Niko Espitia went 2 for 5, with a pair of doubles. Heston Reidhead went 2 for 4. Izzy Ramos was 2 for 5 and Hunter Love went 1 for 1.
Reidhead pitched three innings, allowing 10 runs on six hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts. Oberriter worked three innings giving up four runs on five hits, with three walks and had four strikeouts.
Hosting Payson on Friday afternoon the Roadrunners took the early lead with two first-inning runs. Both teams scored once in the second. Holbrook extended their lead with one run in the third and led 4-1 going into the fourth. Payson pulled closer with two runs in the fourth, then edged in front with three runs in the fifth. They added three more in the fourth to win the game 9-5.
Love went 3 for 4. Martinez was 2 for 4, with a double. Espitia went 1 for 3. Izzy Ramos was 1 for 4. Sam Paschal went 1 for 1. and Ty Larson was 1 for 3.
Kyle Smith worked the first 6.1 innings, giving up nine runs on eight hits with three walks. Ramos pitched .2 innings with two strikeouts.
Holbrook has a busy week ahead with four games on the docket. After hosting Winslow on Monday, they will travel to Snowflake on Wednesday. They go to Payson on Thursday. On Saturday they have a much shorter trip to Joseph City. Next Monday they will wrap up the regular season with a trip to Blue Ridge.
Holbrook was ranked 31st prior to Friday’s loss. They will most likely need to pick up a few wins this week to have any chance of making the postseason. Their overall record going into this was 9-10 and they were ranked 31st in power points with a 5-7 regular season mark.
