The Lady Wildcats dropped two of the three games they played last week, and as a result they dropped from the top spot in the 1A rankings not long ago down to the third position going into Saturday’s game at Show Low.
The week started well enough with a 14-4 decision over Bagdad. on Monday. The Wildcats and Sultans played the game in Winslow. Both teams scored 2 first inning runs, then went scoreless in the second frame. The Sultans scored 2 more in the top of the third, only to see Joseph City take the lead for good with 3 in the bottom of the inning. Joseph City blanked Bagdad the rest of the way and went on to win 7-4 for their 16th win of the season.
Hosting fourth ranked Williams on Wednesday the Wildcats gave up 1 run in the first, then neither team scored until the sixth inning where the Vikings added another run to lead 2-0. In the top of the seventh they matched that total with 2 more runs. Joseph City didn’t score until the bottom of the seventh where they picked up 2 runs, but that was as close as they would get to a late game rally, losing the game 4-2.
Saturday afternoon the Wildcats traveled to Show Low to face the high-ranked Cougars on a windy afternoon. Show Low was ranked fourth in the 3A rankings and proved too much for the Wildcats who fell 2-12.
Joseph City had one game remaining in the regular season. They will travel to St. Johns on Monday to face a Lady Redskin team ranked eighth in 2A for the final game.
Regardless of Monday’s outcome the Wildcats will be a top eight seed in the 1A State playoffs, which get underway on Friday, May 1st, at sites of the higher seeds. Joseph City expects to be hosting that game.
The Wildcats were 16-10 overall and 8-4 in regular season games heading into Monday’s match up with St. Johns.
