On March 24, the Winslow Bulldogs hosted the Blue Ridge Yellowjackets of Lakeside in a game that at first appeared to be on the verge of it ending early, but the Bulldogs would battle back inning after inning to keep the contest going for all seven innings.
In the top of the first inning the Yellowjackets would score 6 runs. Starting with Hudson Moore and Brody Ellsworth each scoring off wild pitches then two would score off an error and Karlo Harris would get a 2-RBI double. In the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs would put 1 run on the board with an Ehren Leonard RBI single.
In the top of the second inning the Yellowjackets would tack on 2 runs on a Brenton Newcomb 2-RBI single.
In the top of the third the Yellowjackets would take a 12 to 1 lead over the Bulldogs by scoring 4 runs with a Kaden Edgington 2-RBI single, an Ellsworth RBI triple, and a Newcomb RBI double and he would come home on an error. In the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs would score 2 runs when Alex Reid would come home on a defensive play and Brody Knight would get an RBI single.
In the top of the fourth inning the Yellowjackets scored 3 runs on an Edington 3-RBI triple. In the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs would score 3 runs with 2 outs. Reid would get an RBI single along with a 2-RBI double by Leonard.
In the top of the fifth the Yellowjackets scored 1 run when Justin Carpenter would score on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs would need to score at least 1 run to keep the game going and they would end up scoring 2, on an Aiden Saucedo 2-RBI double.
In the top of the sixth inning the Yellowjackets would score 3 runs with Ellsworth scoring on a wild pitch and two unearned runs. In the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs would score 2 runs with Aiden Martinez scoring on an error along with an unearned run.
In the top of the seventh inning the Yellowjackets scored 1 run with a Newcomb RBI double. In the bottom of the seventh the Bulldogs would score 3 runs. Two were unearned and Reid would score on a wild pitch for a final score of Blue Ridge 20, Winslow 13.
Winslow would use five pitchers: Jeremias Paddock with 1 strikeout, James Mendoza with 1 strikeout, Kori Willie with 1 strikeout, also Leonard and Matthius Dick. Winslow had 13 runs on 9 hits with 4 errors.
The Bulldogs traveled to Goodyear to participate along with 13 other teams at five locations over three days March 26-28.
On the first day the Bulldogs faced 5A La Joya Community Lobo’s of Avondale in what would be one of the Bulldogs strongest showing of the tourney. In the top of the first the Lobos would score 4 runs. In the bottom of the inning the Bulldogs would score 3 runs when Leonard and Martinez would each score on errors and Dre Bialon would come home on a walk. In the top of the second inning the Lobos would score 6 runs and then in the top of the third they would score 1 run. In the bottom of the third the Bulldogs would score 4 runs when Alex Mendoza would have an RBI single and a Michael Magallanes RBI single, they would both then come home on ground outs. The game would be called on a time limit after four innings, with a final score of La Joya 11, Winslow 7.
On day two the Bulldogs would play two games starting in the morning when they faced the 6A Gila Ridge Hawks of Yuma. The Bulldogs would end up being shut out for the first time this season by the Hawks, with a final score of Gila Ridge 13, Winslow 0.
In the second game of the day the Bulldogs would face the host team the 4A Estrella Foothills Wolves. The Wolves would keep the Bulldogs scoreless until the top of the fifth inning when trailing by 8 runs the Bulldogs would score 2 runs when Knight would score on a ground out and then Samuel Crisp would score on a SAC fly. The Wolves would score 3 more runs in the bottom of the inning, for a final score of Estrella Foothills 12, Winslow 2.
On the final day of the tournament the Bulldogs faced the 5A North Canyon Rattlers of Phoenix. The Bulldogs would score in the top of the first inning on a Leonard RBI single. The Bulldogs would score again in the top of the fourth inning when Alex Reid would tag up and score on a fly out, for a final score of North Canyon 12, Winslow 2.
