Eight starters, inlcuding five who earned post season honors are key returnees for the Winslow Bulldogs.

Winslow opened its baseball season, chalking up a pair of victories last week. The Bulldogs outlasted Chino Valley, 13-10, at Vagas Field in Winslow. Winslow blanked Tuba City, 17-0, in its second game of the young season.

Winslow finished 19-16 overall and 6-4 in 3A East Region play last year. Winslow was eliminated in the state tournament first round by Catalina Magnet last year.

Winslow faces San Tan Foothills this Friday in the first round of the Joe Padilla Tournament.

Longtime Winslow head coach Art Griffith is in his 51st year. Griffith was inducted into the National High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame last summer.

Returning players include senior, pitcher/first baseman, four-year starter Jacob Guerrero; senior outfielder, four year starter A.J. Huerta; senior pitcher/infielder, three year starter Solomon Setalla; senior, pitcher/outfielder, two year starter Dylan Vargas; junior pitcher/infielder/outfielder, three year starter Sonny Wilbanks; sophomore outfielder, two year starter Jace Lyons; sophomore pitcher/outfielder, two year starter Alex Vargas; and junior, infielder, two year starter Zane Corum.

Guerrero was selected first team all-region and second team all-state, Huerta was named to first team all-region. Second team all-region selections were Setalla, Wilbanks and Lyons.

Griffith said pitching, defense and experience in a number of positions are the team's strengths.

"We are capable of having a very good team if the pieces fall in place, we hustle and have a great attitude," Griffith said.

Griffith said the Bulldogs still have work ahead of them.

"Finding the right mix of the nine best baseball players and building great team chemistry."