Joseph City came up just three runs short of being the 1A state softball champions. Their 11-9 loss to top-seeded Williams on Friday afternoon in the championship game ended a spectacular season for the Lady Wildcats, who posted a remarkable record of 29-4. Their runner-up finish marked a season in which they strung together two 12-game winning streaks and never had a back-to-back loss.
Joseph City entered the 1A state tournament as the No. 3 overall seed. Their path to the title game had a 14-0 win over No. 14 seed Red Mesa in the first round. In the quarterfinals, they defeated sixth-seeded San Manuel 7-4. Their semifinal win was a 16-11 upset win over second-seeded Bagdad.
In that semi-final win played on Thursday at Quail Run Park, Joseph City scored one time in the first inning. Baghdad countered with two in their at-bat and led 2-1. Joseph City then retook the lead with a pair of second-inning runs. That lead was wiped away in the bottom of the third when the Sultans pushed across five runs to lead 7-3. Joseph City matched that output with five of their own at the top of the fourth. After Bagdad scored twice in the fourth, they led Joseph City 9-8. Joseph City covered that lead and then some with seven runs in the top of the fifth frame. They added one more in the sixth to lead 16-9. Bagdad tried to mount a rally scoring twice in the sixth but that was as close as they would get. Neither team scored in the seventh, leaving the Wildcats with a 16-11 win and a trip to the 1A state title game.
Kassidy Juarez went 2 for 3, with a home run. Kadence Armstrong was 2 for 5, with a solo home run. Kate Edwards went 1 for 3, with a double. Maddy Powers was 2 for 4, with two doubles. Samantha Jesmer went 1 for 3, Kaye James was 2 for 5 and Gabby Jesmer went 1 for 1.
James pitched the complete game, allowing 11 runs on 10 hits with four walks and five strikeouts.
In the championship game against number one Williams, both teams scored once in the opening frame. Joseph City pushed in three runs in the top of the second. Williams scored twice in the third. The Wildcats then scored two runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings, building an 8-3 lead. Williams showed their mettle with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to overtake the Wildcats. Both teams scored once in the sixth and neither scored in the seventh, leaving Joseph City on the wrong side of the 11-9 final outcome.
James went 2 for 5, with a home run. Powers was 3 for 5, with a double. Staisha Murdock went 2 for 4, with a double. Jesmer was 4 for 4, Juarez went 1 for 3 as did Brooklyn Petersen, and Armstrong was 1 for 4.
James pitched 4.1 innings, allowing 10 runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts. April Neill worked 1.2 innings giving up one run on two hits with a strikeout.
Joseph City lists just five seniors on this year’s roster so another deep playoff run in the 1A ranks should be expected again next season.
