Holbrook dropped their only regular season game last week prior to going 2-1 at the Joseph City Invitational over the weekend. Hosting Round Valley on Wednesday the Roadrunners fell behind the Elks early trailing 6-1 after two innings. Round Valley extended that lead to 10-1 with four in the third, then finished Holbrook off with two runs in the fourth under the 10-run rule.
Holbrook managed just two hits on a windy day against Elks’ pitching. Isaac Martinez went 1 for 2, and Kyle Smith was 1 for 2. Martinez scored Holbrook’s only run on Smith’s hit. Conner Winn, Smith, and Izzy Ramos each had a stolen base.
Ramos pitched 2.1 innings, giving up nine runs on four hits with seven walks and four strikeouts. Marcus Oberriter worked 2.2 innings, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Holbrook faced Hopi in the first round of the Joseph City Invitational on Thursday. After giving up one to the Bruins in the top of the first Holbrook countered with three in the home half to lead 3-1. That lead held until the fourth where they added another run, then the Birds extended their lead with four in the fifth then ended the game with three in the sixth making the final score 11-1.
Ramos went 3 for 4, with a pair of triples. Isaac Martinez was 2 for 4; Smith was 2 for 3, with a triple; Heston Reidhead went 2 for 3, with a double; Oberriter was 1 for 3; Winn was 1 for 3; Hunter Love went 1 for 4; and Sam Paschal went 1 for 2.
Smith pitched all six innings, giving up just one run on only two hits with three walks and he had seven strikeouts.
Holbrook’s second tournament game was a tougher 8-4 win over Chinle. The Roadrunners scored twice in the second, added one in the third, and four more in the fourth to lead 7-0. Chinle came back with three in the fifth before Holbrook added another in the sixth. The Wildcats scored a final run in the top of the seventh before Holbrook secured the four-run win.
Smith went 2 for 4, with a double. Heston Reidhead was also 2 for 4 with a double. Izzy Ramos went 3 for 3, with a double. Oberriter went 1 for 4, Isaac Martinez was 1 for 2, Niko Espitia was 1 for 1, and Bryson Autobee went 1 for 4.
Conner Winn worked five innings on the hill giving up three runs on five hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. Reidhead worked the final two innings, allowing no runs and only one hit with two walks and two strikeouts.
With that win, Holbrook advanced to take on Joseph City in the championship game. Playing on their home diamond the Wildcats started quickly with three runs in the first inning. Holbrook scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings to knot the game at 3-3. Joseph City broke that tie in the bottom of the fifth with three runs to briefly retake the lead. Holbrook countered with four runs in the top of the seventh, grabbing a 7-6 lead. However, the Wildcats pushed in two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win the game and their own tournament 8-7.
Holbrook collected just eight hits in the loss. Espitia had three of those eight, with a 3 for 3 performance which included a home run. Hunter Love went 1 for 3, with a double. Izzy Ramos was 1 for 4, with a home run. Autobee went 1 for 3, with a double. Heston Reidhead went 1 for 4 and Smith was 1 for 3.
Oberriter pitched the first five innings giving up six runs on four hits, with three walks and he struck out nine batters. Niko Espitia worked 1 inning, giving up two runs with two walks. Hunter Love pitched one-third of an inning, allowing just one hit with a walk and a strikeout.
Holbrook heads into their spring break with an overall record of 6-3. They will resume action on Monday when they travel to St. Johns. Tuesday will be a trip to Blue Ridge to open east region play. On Thursday they will be in Show Low.
