In their first regular season action since March 11, the Wildcats fell to visiting Williams on Thursday in extra innings.
Following a scoreless first inning, the Vikings pushed one run across in the second taking the early 1-0 lead. With Williams’ pitching keeping the Wildcats at bay through the first four frames, their three additional runs in the top of the fifth inning gave them a brief 4-0 lead.
Joseph City battled back tying the game with four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Neither team scored in the sixth or seventh innings, forcing an eighth frame where again nobody could manufacture a run. In the top of the ninth, the roof caved in for the Wildcats with the Vikings scoring seven runs. Joseph City failed to produce any runs in the bottom of the ninth, leaving them on the wrong side of an 11-4 final outcome.
Joseph City finished with eight hits in the game. Owen Beatty went 2 for 5, with a stolen base. Zane Johnson was 1 for 3, as were Kelton Chairez, Kaysen Miller and Jeffrey Howerton. Bannon Johnstun, and Jareon Miller each went 1 for 5.
Johnstun pitched eight innings, allowing four runs on 11 hits, with eight strikeouts. Blake Palmer worked two-thirds of an inning, giving up two runs on two hits, with a pair of walks. Chairez pitched one-third of an inning allowing five runs on four hits.
The Wildcats scheduled game with Fredonia the following day was postponed due to weather. This week Joseph City is slated to host Mogollon on Tuesday. On Thursday they will travel to face a very good Hayden team. Next Tuesday they will have another long trip going to Bagdad.
Joseph City entered this week with a 6-4 overall record. The initial power point rankings will come out on Tuesday of this week.
