Joseph City picked up two much needed wins in three games played last week. Wins over Rock Point on Tuesday and Ganado on Thursday helped push the Cats up to 20th in the power point rankings at the beginning of this week. They fell to Williams in a slugfest on Friday.
In Tuesday’s game at Rock Point, the Cats came away with an 11-0, five-inning win. Sam Johnstun and Jack Wilbanks combined to work the five innings on the hill. They gave up just one hit with six strikeouts and walked none.
At the plate the Wildcats collected 12 hits, led by KJ Kinlicheenie and Bryndon Buckley, who each went 3 for 3. Johnstun was 1 for 1. Dylan Romero was 2 for 3. Cota Smith and Wilbanks were both 1 for 2. Cameron Baldwin went 1 for 3.
On Thursday the Cats again played well, resulting a 12-1, five-inning road win at Ganado.
Troy Poudrier went 3 for 4 at the plate. Buckley was 3 for 5. Tristan Richard, Rance Haddox, Johnstun and Wilbanks were all 2 for 4. Romero went 1 for 4 with a triple. Buckley and Richard each hit doubles.
Wilbanks and Poudrier worked the seven-inning game, giving up just one run on three hits with nine strikeouts and walked four.
Friday’s game was a 14-13 home field loss. The two teams combined for 23 hits in the contest and each made six errors.
Joseph City led 3-1 after the first inning, but trailed 10-6 after three frames. The Cats scored six runs in the fifth to tie the game at 12-12. Williams scored twice in the sixth, then Joseph City closed the scoring with just one run in the sixth.
Johnstun pitched 42/3 innings, giving up six runs on five hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Wilbanks worked 21/3 innings, allowing eight runs on six hits with three strikeouts and five walks.
Romero had a solid game, going 3 for 5 at the plate with a home run, a double, five RBIs and scored twice. Poudrier was 3 for 4. Richard and Wilbanks were both 2 for 5. Johnstun went 1 for 3. Kinlicheenie, Haddox and Jesse Hulsey were all 1 for 4.
The Wildcats headed into this week with a 5-8 overall record. They will be busy this week with four games on the docket. After hosting Red Mesa on Monday and Hopi on Tuesday, they will play Greyhills on Thursday, April 14, at Tuba City, then host Rough Rock on Friday, April 15. On Monday, April 18, they host Valley.
