A severe snow storm dumped approximately one foot of snow last week, forcing Navajo Nation high schools to postponed its regular season baseball opener.

Along with the snow storm, was cold wind. Temperatures dipped into the 20's, forcing the schools to practice inside.

The Chinle Wildcats was one of the victims of the snow storm and cold wind. Chinle found itsself working on fundamentals.

The Wildcats had two of its regular season baseball games postponed, due to inclement weather conditions. Chinle's game at Holbrook and at Show Low were postponed. The Wildcats' second regular season freedom game with Holbrook is scheduled for this Saturday at 11 a.m. in Chinle.

According to Chinle head baseball coach Don Kimbrough, said the Wildcats' home field is being prepared for this Saturday's home opener.

"There was about two to three inches of snow on our field," KImbrough, who begins his fifth year as head coach said. "Our athletic director Shaun Martin has done an outstanding job of clearing the snow off the field, preparing our field for practice and our game on Saturday."

Kimbrough guided Chinle to a 16-11 overall record and a berth in the state tournament play-in game last year. In the state tournament play-in game, No. 22 ranked Wildcats were eliminated by No. 11 Payson Longhorns, 4-0.

Chinle has five returning players from his 15 player roster. Returning are senior catcher, infielder, outfielder Nelson Lynch, juniors Myren Hoskie, a shortstop, pitcher, outfielder, and Jeron Segay, a first baseman, outfielder. Also returning are sophomores Jayden Guy, a shortstop, pitcher, outfielder, and Jermaine Jones, a catcher, outfielder, infielder.

"We're young and inexperienced," Kimbrough said. "We have three freshmen, four sophomores, seven juniors and one senior. The guys are working hard. We had off season workouts outside in January. We practiced outside until the snow storm last week. It is cold outside. We're working on fundamentals. There's nothing we can do about the cold conditions."

Kimbrough said he has four pitchers and is looking at others as possible pitchers.

"There is a pitch count I have to look watch during games," Kimbrough said. "We have doubleheaders, so I have to make sure our pitchers do not go over the pitch count."

Kimbrough said after this Saturday's game with Holbrook, he will know more what the Wildcats' strengths and weaknesses are in an actual game situation.