The Joseph City Wildcats had an up and down beginning to last week. Hosting Show Low on Monday they fell 15-0 in five innings, but the following day the Cats flipped the script on Mogollon, defeating the visiting Mustangs 12-2.
Show Low scored in each of the first five innings, closing the game out with seven of their 15 runs in the top of the fifth. Cougar pitchers limited the Wildcats to just four hits. Bryndon Buckley, Jesse Hulsey, Rance Haddox and Troy Poudrier all went 1 for 2 on the day.
Tuesday’s final home game of the season against rival Mogollon went much better. Both teams scored once in the first, then the Wildcats opened a nice lead with three in the second and another one in the third. Mogollon made the score 5–2 with a run in the fourth. Joseph City scored twice in the fourth, then closed the game out under the mercy rule with a five-run fifth frame.
The Wildcats scored 12 runs on 13 hits and played error free.
Mogollon scored two runs on only three hits and made four errors.
At the plate, Buckley went 3 for 3 with two doubles. Dylan Romero was 2 for 3 with a home run. Cameron Baldwin and Poudrier both went 3 for 4 with a double. KJ Kinlicheenie was 1 for 1; Hulsey, 1 for 2; Latrelle Kinlicheenie, 1 for 3 with a double; and Haddox, 1 for 4.
Buckley worked all five innings on the hill, giving up two runs on just 3 hits with 10 strikeouts and walked only one Mustang.
The Wildcats have just two regular season games remaining. After playing at Williams on Tuesday, they will travel to Flagstaff today (April 26) to face Northland Prep.
Joseph City entered this week ranked eighth in power points and will be playing in the 1A state tournament, which begins on Friday, May 5, at the Goodyear Baseball Complex.
