Kendall Bakurza has his first year Roadrunner team off to a 3-1 start to the season after winning two of three games played last week. On Wednesday the Birds defeated Chinle for the second time this year, this time by a final of 15-2. The following day Holbrook suffered their first loss of the year falling on the road at east region foe Payson where they were shut out by the Longhorns, 4-0. Holbrook bounced back on Saturday with an 11-2 home win over Window Rock.
Playing in Chinle the Roadrunners gained early control of the game with seven runs through the first two innings. They pushed that margin to 15-0 before giving up two runs in the bottom of the fifth making the final score 15-2.
Holbrook finished with 16 hits in the game led by Frankie Ulibarri, Ryan Short, Gabe Gabaldon and Justin Perkins each of which had three hits. Ulibarri and Perkins each homered. Ulibarri also had a double as did Gabaldon. Short finished with two doubles in his three hits.
Ulibarri earned the win on the hill where he faced 25 Wildcat batters. He gave up just two runs on six hits with five strikeouts and walked only two.
The following day in Payson the Roadrunners struggled to put runners on base. They finished with just two hits against Payson pitching in the 4-0 loss. Ulibarri went 1 for 3, as did Gabaldon. Perkins took the loss on the hill where he worked six innings facing 29 Longhorn batters. Perkins allowed four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and walked four.
Playing at home on Saturday, the Roadrunners had better luck against Window Rock pitching. Holbrook scored once in the first then opened the game up with five runs in the second. The Scouts tried to mount a challenge in the fourth with their only two runs. Holbrook quickly countered with two of their own in the fourth then tacked on three additional runs to win the game 11-2.
Short led the way at the plate going 3 for 4. Cole McDaniel was 2 for 3, Jalen Nez 2 for 4, Gabe Santibanez 2 for 2, Perkins 2 for 4 with a triple, Ulibarri 1 for 3, Brett Buckley 1 for 3, Michael Queiruga 1 for 3, and Gabaldon went 1 for 3.
Nez earned the win on the hill. He faced 26 batters in seven innings of work giving up just two runs on six hits with 10 strikeouts and walked only one.
After hosting Northland Prep on Monday afternoon, the Roadrunners will play in the Route 66 Tournament held in River Valley this weekend. They will return to regular season action on March 13 when they travel to Page for a double-header contest.
