While many area teams are just beginning to get their seasons started the Roadrunners have already put four regular season games in the books. Fortunately for the Birds they are 3-1 in those contests giving them an early start on power point rankings.

Holbrook began their season on Feb. 22 with a close 9-8 win at Chinle. They followed that up with a 13-0 win at Window Rock three days later. In that contest Holbrook pitchers Jalen Nez and Frankie Ulibarri combined to give up just one hit in five innings of work.

Holbrook pounded out 14 hits in the game led by Cole McDaniel who went 3 for 3 with a double. Cade Maestas was 2 for 3 with a home run. Tristan Baldonado, Ryan Short and Gabe Gabaldon all had extra base hits including two doubles from Gabaldon.

This past Wednesday Holbrook faced Chinle for the second time and this time around the game was not close. Tristan Baldonado pitched a no hitter in five innings of work. He gave up just one walk with seven strikeouts against the overmatched Wildcats.

Holbrook had just six hits in the game, but they wracked up 11 runs on those hits to win the game in five innings 11-0. Cole McDaniel went 2 for 3 as did Shane McGraw.

Then next day things got a little tougher for the Birds as they suffered their first setback of the season. Payson came to town and handed the Roadrunners a 15-1 loss, which was not only a power point loss but an East Region defeat as well.

Payson scored twice in the first, then added two more in the third to lead 4-0. Holbrook tried to mount a challenge with one run in the fourth, but in the top of the fifth frame the bottom fell out. Taking advantage of numerous errors by the Roadrunners the Longhorns piled up 11 fifth inning runs to end the game under the mercy rule. Payson finished with 15 total hits and held Holbrook to just four.

Shane McGraw, Frankie Ulibarri, Tristan Baldonado and Gabe Gabaldon were the only Birds to reach via a hit in the game.

Payson’s pitcher Jake Beeler tallied 12 Roadrunner strikeouts in the win.

After hosting Northland Prep on Tuesday the Roadrunners will play in the Route 66 Baseball Classic held in River Valley this weekend. Scheduled opponents include, Spring Creek, Nev., Central, Calif., Kingman, River Valley and Southwest, Calif. Next Tuesday Holbrook will return to regular season action when they host Page in a double-header contest.