Oree Foster
Staff Writer, AZPreps365.com

Baseball: Chinle's bats come alive in doubleheader victory over MV Mustangs

March 31, 2019 by Oree Foster, AZPreps365


Chinle's potent offense and the Wildcats' pitching were too much for Monument Valley, as the Wildcats swept the Mustangs in a 3A North Region doubleheader baseball game in Kayenta.

Chinle recorded 30 runs and had 31 hits in the doubleheader.

Chinle won the first game, 16-4, as the Wildcats cracked 18 hits, in a shortened five inning game. The Wildcats completed the twinbill sweep, 14-5, as Chinle belted 13 hits.

The Wildcats' pitching limited Monument Valley to eight hits for the two games. The Mustangs had three hits in the first game. Monument Valley recorded five hits in the nightcap.

Chinle head coach Don Kimbrough said Wildcat starting pitcher Anthony Yazzie struggled in the first inning, allowing Monument Valley four runs, three hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. The Wildcats' defense committed two errors.

"After struggling through the first inning, Anthony Yazzie settled on the mound for us and he didn't allow any more base hits," Kimbrough said. "Our offense produced 18 hits and 16 runs."

Monument Valley took a 4-0 lead at the end of the first inning, as Cody Young, Lyle Blackgoat and Caden Kescoli each had a base hit. Young drove in one run and Blackgoat had two ribbies during the rally.

Chinle battled back during the second inning with five runs. The Wildcats added one run in the third inning. Chinle broke the game open in the fourth, crossing the plate with four runs. The Wildcats ended the game in the fifth inning, tallying six runs.

Starting Monument Valley hurler Cody Young suffered the loss. He allowed 10 runs and 12 hits. He fanned one batter. Marcus Montoya relieved Young. Montoya threw 1.2 innings, giving up six runs.

Chinle's Anthony Yazzie, Nelson Lynch, Bryneal Hoskie and Sheldon Cly each had three hits apiece. Wildcats' Jayden Guy and Jake Guy both had a pair of hits.

Cody Young, Lyle Blackgoat and Caden Kescoli recorded one hit apiece for Monument Valley.

In the second game, Anthony Yazzie was the starting pitcher for Chinle. Yazzie threw one inning, allowing  three runs on two hits and striking out one batter. Wildcat relief pitcher Jayden Guy was the winning pitcher. He threw six innings, giving up five runs on three hits. Guy fanned 12 batters.

Losing pitcher was Marvin Young, who threw 1.1 innings. He allowed seven runs and four hits. He waslked four batters and struckout two. Relief pitcher Tyrell Holiday threw 4.1 innings. The Wildcats scored six runs and had five hits off Holiday. Relief pitcher Chance Littleben threw 1.1 innings, allowing one run, one hit and fanning two batters.

Chinle and Monument Valley both scored three runs apiece in the first inning. The Wildcats crossed rhe plate four times in the second inning. Chinle scored one run in the fourth, two in the fifth, three in the sixth and one in the seventh. Monument Valley tallied two runs in the sixth inning.

Marvin Young and Tyrell Holiday led Monument Valley with a pair of hits and scoring two runs apiece. Marcus Montoya had one hit for the Mustangs.

Jermain Jones topped Chinle's offense with three hits, three RBI and three runs. Leandre Anagal and Sheldon Cly both had two base hits. Cly scored two runs and had one RBI.

"Overall, we liiked real good," Kimbrough said. "We're sitting number one in the region right now," Kimbrough said. "Page and Window Rock are sitting in second and third place and will play a doubleheader next week that will affect region placement.

Chinle leads the 3A North Region with a 5-1 record. The Wildcats are 8-4 overall. Chinle completes in the Chandler Prep tournament, Thursday through Saturday.