The Joseph City Wildcats won two of the three games they played last week. On Tuesday they fell to Northland Prep, 8-2, but they bounced back in fine fashion, sweeping both games of a doubleheader against Red Mesa.
Northland Prep scored single runs in the second and third innings, then tacked on three more in the fourth to build a 5-0 lead. That was enough to offset the Wildcats’ two runs in the sixth frame.
Joseph City scattered just four hits in the game. Bryndon Buckley went 0 for 3, but reached once on an error and scored one of the Cats’ two runs. Sam Johnstun went 1 for 3 and scored the other run. Rance Haddox was 1 for 3 and Jack Wilbanks went 1 for 2.
Buckley pitched four innings, giving up five runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts and two walks. Troy Poudrier worked two innings, allowing two runs on three hits and walked one. Jesse Hulsey pitched one inning, allowing one run on one hit.
Joseph City swept Red Mesa on Thursday, winning game one 17-2, then taking the second game 18-0.
In the first outing the Cats took control with six first inning runs, then moved in front 14-0 before Red Mesa got on the board.
The Cats pounded out 13 hits in the game. Buckley went 2 for 2 with a double, two RBIs and scored twice. Cota Smith was 1 for 2 and scored a run. Dylan Romero went 1 for 3 with a double, two RBIs and scored a run. Johnstun was 2 for 2 with a double and scored four runs. Haddox went 1 for 2 with three RBIs and scored once. Cody Runyan went 3 for 3 with a triple, four RBIs and scored once. Wilbanks went 1 for 3 with two RBIs and scored twice.
Wilbanks took the win on the hill, working four innings. He gave up just two runs on two hits with a walk and struck out nine batters.
Game two was similar to the first. Joseph City pushed in seven first inning runs, then blew the game open with 10 in the second and scored a final run in the third.
Buckley pitched a four-hit shutout in four innings of work with nine strikeouts and no walks.
At the plate Hulsey went 1 for 2 with an RBI and scored twice. Buckley helped his own cause by going 1 for 2 with an RBI and scoring three runs. Romero went 2 for 2 with three RBIs and scored twice. Tyler Fenn was 1 for 1. Trey Tuckfield went 1 for 3, scoring twice. Johnstun was 1 for 3 and scored once. Haddox went 2 for 4 with a double, a triple, an RBI and scored once. Runyan went 2 for 3 with an RBI and scored twice. Wilbanks was 2 for 3 with an RBI and scored three runs. Poudrier went 2 for 3 with an RBI and scored twice.
Joseph City was ranked 23rd in power points at the end of last week. The Cats have an overall mark of 7-7. They will play Valley on Thursday, April 9, at Sanders, then travel to Fredonia on Saturday, April 11, for a doubleheader. On Tuesday, April 14, they will host Rough Rock in another twin bill.
