The Winslow Bulldogs edged the Snowflake Lobos 3-2 in Winslow April 20, but lost to the Longhorns 4-3 two days later in Payson. They then fell to the North Canyon Rattlers 2-1 in Surprise in the Arizona State 3A Tournament last Friday.
The thrilling 3-2 win over Snowflake went 13 innings. The Bulldogs had to come from behind with a two-run bottom of the 13th inning after the Lobos went ahead in the top of the frame. Snowflake scored in the top of the 13th on two singles and a double. Winslow won the game in the bottom of the frame on a home run by Akeem Foster with one out after a single by Matt Ramos. The two-run shot secured the hard won victory.
Ramos got the win in relief of Kuster Kinlicheenie. Both pitched well. Kinlicheenie worked nine innings and gave up one unearned run on six hits and a walk. Ramos worked four innings in relief and gave up one run on six hits.
Winslow only had six hits. Foster was 1 for 2 with a homer and the game winning RBIs. Darrien “Peanut” Brown was 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Ramos was 2 for 6 with a double. Rey Chavez-Velez was 1 for 6.
In the 4-3 loss to Payson, the Longhorns won the game in the extra frame on a single, a walk and another single. The scoring was all late, as both teams plated two runs in the sixth inning and one in the seventh.
Ramos worked the mound for the 61/3 innings and gave up three runs, two of which were earned, on five hits. Chavez-Velez took the loss, working two-thirds of an inning and giving up the winning run on two hits and a walk.
Matt Bollin was 2 for 3 at the plate for the Bulldogs. Junior Villanueva and Chavez-Velez were both 1 for 3. C.J. Chacon was 1 for 4 with a home run.
In last Friday’s game with the North Canyon Rattlers in Surprise, Winslow scored in the top of the third inning when Ramos singled and was forced out at second by Chacon, who stole second and scored later to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
North Canyon tied the score in the bottom of the third inning and the game stayed knotted until the final frame. Winslow threatened in the top of the seventh, but could not get the runner home. The Rattlers scored the game winner in the bottom of the seventh inning on a two-out single to claim the hard won victory.
Ramos led the Bulldogs at the plate with two hits in three trips. Foster and Brown were both 1 for 2, and Villanueva was 1 for 3.
The game was an excellent pitcher’s duel between North Canyon’s Juan Cabrera and Winslow’s Kinlicheenie. Cabrera gave up only one run on five hits and two walks while striking out 14. Kinlicheenie gave up two runs on nine hits and a walk, and struck out seven.
The results ended the Bulldogs’ season with a 16-12 record. North Canyon advanced to play Poston Butte on Saturday, but lost 4-3 and ended the season at 16-9.
