After piling up four consecutive wins against lesser opponents, the Holbrook Roadrunners had their winning streak snapped at the hands of Blue Ridge last Friday afternoon. Playing in Lakeside, the Birds were shut out 9-0 and were held hitless by Sebastian Kessay, the winning hurler for the Jackets. Kessay left Holbrook batters guessing and missing with 19 strikeouts and just 4 walks.
Neither team scored until the third inning when Blue Ridge pushed in two runs. Holbrook remained in the game until the fifth when the Jackets added five more runs.
Blue Ridge pounded out eight hits and made just one error. Holbrook was unable to come up with a hit, but made no errors.
Ryan Baldonado started the game on the hill for Holbrook and worked five innings, facing 29 batters. He gave up eight runs, five earned, on seven hits with seven strikeouts, four walks and had five wild pitches. Javier Quintana pitched one inning, facing five batters. He allowed one unearned run on one hit with a strikeout and a walk.
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On Saturday the Birds were on their home turf facing another traditionally tough East Region opponent when Show Low came to town.
Holbrook again struggled at the plate and didn’t score until the sixth inning when the Birds pushed in two runs. Show Low scored twice each in the third and fourth innings, then added another in the top of the sixth to lead 5-0 before the Roadrunner runs. Not leaving any doubt about the final outcome, the Cougars scored three additional runs in the top of the seventh to secure the 8-2 win.
Holbrook collected five hits in the game and matched Show Low with two errors. Caleb Layden went two for four. Kory Koerperich was one for four. Dylan Barela went one for three with a walk and an RBI. Jesse Spangler was one for two and scored a run. Joey Aguilera walked twice and scored once.
Ilacian Johnson started the game and took the loss on the hill. He pitched four innings, facing 21 batters. Johnson gave up four runs, three earned, on three hits with six strikeouts and five walks. Seneca Murphy pitched two innings, facing nine batters. He allowed two runs, one earned, on one hit with a walk. Layden pitched one inning, facing 5 batters. He gave up two runs, both earned, on one hit with a walk and a strikeout.
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With the two losses Holbrook drops to 4-3 overall. After playing Blue Ridge again on Monday, this time at home, the Roadrunners will have a week off to prepare for a home game against Tuba City on Tuesday, March 29.
