The Wildcats of Joseph City wrapped up the regular baseball season on a sour note last Tuesday, suffering a 6-0 shut out loss on the road in Williams.

The Vikings scored once in the bottom of the first and held that lead until the fourth when they expanded the margin to 4-0. Two final runs in the fifth and a strong pitching performance were enough to shut down Joseph City.

The Wildcats finished with just four hits in the game. Jesse Hulsey, Kolton McCormick, Rance Haddox and Troy Poudrier each had a hit, with Haddox and Poudrier collecting doubles.

Bryndon Buckley worked all six innings on the hill, giving up six runs on seven hits with 10 strikeouts and walked only one Viking batter.

Joseph City’s final game scheduled at Northland Prep was canceled, leaving the Wildcats ranked eighth in the 1A state bracket.

As the No. 8 seed they will see some familiar faces when they take on ninth seeded Williams at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 5, at the Goodyear Baseball Complex.

If the Cats can find a way to flip the tables on Williams, they would face either top ranked Superior or No. 16 Valley Lutheran in the second round at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 6.