Sports Briefs: Winslow pounds 16 hits over Poston Butte

FORT DEFIANCE

Area schools did well in baseball action last weekend as the head into the last month of the baseball season.

During the latter part of April, the regular season will end and the state tournament will begin. The state championship game culminates the baseball season on May 7.

The Winslow Bulldogs knocked off Poston Butte, of Florence, Ariz., 18-7, in a Division III, Freedom baseball game.

Bulldog senior ace hurler Kuster Kinlecheenie scattered eight hits and was the winning pitcher.

Winslow had 16 hits, led by Ray Velez and Darius Brown with two hits apiece. Velez drove home three runs. Brown recorded a pair of doubles and three RBI for the Bulldogs.

Winslow head coach Art Griffith said the Bulldogs hit the ball well. He said the Bulldogs put the ball into play. He said the Bulldogs cut down on errors, committing a pair of miscues.

Holbrook takes care of St. Johns and Wickenburg

Holbrook chalked up a pair of victories, including a 16-0 shutout over St. Johns and an 8-3 win over the Wickenburg Wranglers in two Freedom baseball games.

Holbrook starting pitcher Trevor Barton went the distance on the mound, recording a victory. He allowed six hits, fanned eight batters and walked three.

Barton, Cade Maestes and Tristan Baldonado each had three hits for Holbrook. Maestes had a pair of RBI for Holbrook.

In a five-inning contest, Holbrook pitcher Jalen Nez recorded a no-hitter. He walked one batter and struck out six.

The Roadrunner had 11 hits. Shane McGraw had three hits and Gabe Gabaldon had two hits to lead Holbrook.

Holbrook head coach Brady Pond said the Roadrunners were aggressive at the plate. He said the Roadrunners’ defense backed up Nez.

Chinle goes 1-3 at Tempe Prep tournament

Chinle’s bats went into a slump for three of the four games at the recent Tempe Prep tournament on March 17-18.

“We couldn’t make contact and put the ball into play,” said Chinle head coach Don Kimbrough. “We make contact, but we hit the ball right at our opponent’s defense. We went into a batting slump.”

In the first game of pool play, Chinle dropped an 8-1 decision to Glendale Ironwood.

Ironwood jumped on Chinle starting pitcher Eric Skinner for five runs in the second inning and three runs in the fourth inning.

Kimbrough summoned Chance Harvey, who shut the door on Ironwood.

“I made the pitching change because Eric developed a sore arm,” Kimbrough said. “Defensively, we made critical errors that produced unearned runs for Ironwood.”

Chinle scored its lone run in the second inning. Skinner suffered the loss.

Chinle continued to struggle at the plate as the Wildcats dropped an 8-1 loss to Bagdad in the second game of pool play.

“Once again, we couldn’t get on base as our bats went silent just as in the first game,” Kimbrough said. “We make contact and hit the ball right at someone.”

Skinner, overcoming his soreness in his throwing arm, started the game. Kimbrough pulled Skinner after Bagdad scored three runs early in the game. Harvey came into the game to relieve Skinner.

Harvey was removed as a pitcher after he injured his wrist. Harvey collided with Bagdad’s first baseman.

“Chance (Harvey) was done pitching for the remainder of the tournament,” Kimbrough said. “Injuries hurt us during the tournament.”

Troy Yazzie was Chinle’s leading hitter, stroking a double and a triple.

Chinle lost to Joy Christian, 10-5, in its final pool game.

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead after the first inning. Joy Christian tallied four runs in the second inning, before finishing off its scoring with six runs in the fifth inning.
Skinner started for Chinle, throwing three innings. Cameron Begay came in as relief pitcher.

Jacob Joe and Brian Dedman both had two hits apiece for Chinle. Joe poked a triple and a double. Dedman had a single and a triple. Yazzie lined a single.

Chinle entered the tournament bracket with a 0-3 record. The Wildcats played one game in the tournament bracket.

Chinle posted a 6-4 victory over Tempe Prep, as Wildcat hurler Cameron Begay went the distance on the mound and was the winning pitcher.

Begay allowed two runs in the first inning and one run apiece in the fourth and fifth innings.

Chinle crossed the plate twice in the fourth, three times in the fifth and one run in the sixth.

Sheldon Tsosie cracked three hits, while Jacob Joe and Brandon Brown both had two hits for the Wildcats.

“Our bats came alive against Tempe Prep,” Kimbrough said. “We got out of our batting slump. Our offense looked good. We played good defense. We got good pitching.”

Window Rock bounces back with win over Salome

Window Rock’s bats were silent as the Scouts struck out 12 times, including eight batters fanning without swinging the bat during the 4-2 loss to Fort Thomas in first game of pool play at the Tempe Prep tournament.

“We can’t stand there in the batter’s box and striking out not swinging at the pitch,” said Window Rock head coach Daniel Rasey. “We have to swing the bat when the ball is in the strike zone. It’s better to go down swinging and not just watching the ball.”

Window Rock and Fort Thomas were tied at 1-1 at the end of the first inning. Fort Thomas crossed the plate three times in the second inning. The Scouts managed one run in the third inning.

Klyton Belone was the losing pitcher, throwing two innings. Josh Henry relieved Belone.

Sterling Morgan was Window Rock’s leading hitter. Morgan had two hits at three plate appearances.

Window Rock bounced back in the second game in pool play. The Scouts dropped Salome, 19-8.

“We had a good game,” Rasey said. “Our team speed helped us on the base paths. We stole bases. We got on base a lot, due to walks.”

Jaykub James was the winning pitcher, throwing two innings. Aaron Morgan pitched one inning in relief.

Window Rock’s Warren Scott was the top batter. Scott was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, including two RBI.

The Scouts won its second straight game in its third pool play game. Window Rock blanked the Many Farms Lobos, 10-0.

The Scouts tallied four runs in the first inning. Window Rock added one run in the second inning, followed by one run in the fifth inning and four runs in the sixth inning.
Tobias Sarracino was the winning pitcher, going the distance on the mound.

“Tobias was dominant on the mound,” Rasey said. “He kept Many Farms off balance throughout the game. He threw a two-hitter.”

Oddessy Institute downed Window Rock, 6-3, in tournament bracket play.

Warren Scott suffered the loss. He went the distance on the mound. Scott helped himself offensively, with two hits and driving home a pair of runs.

“Once again, we made contact and we hit right at position players,” Rasey said. “Things didn’t go our way in this game.”

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