The Wildcats sandwiched two losses around one victory last week. They fell to Bagdad on Tuesday, bounced back with a win over Fort Thomas on Thursday, then dropped a two-run game to Superior on Saturday.
Facing the Sultans in Bagdad on Tuesday, the Wildcats were held to just five hits in a 15-0 shutout loss. Baghdad scored five in the first, added six more in the second, one in the third and closed the game out with three in the fourth. The Cats failed to produce any runs.
Owen Beatty went 1 for 2 with a triple, which was about the only highlight for the Wildcats. Bannon Johnstun went 1 for 3; and Jareon Miller, 1 for 2 as was Cort Miller and Brody Penrod.
Johnstun, Kelton Chariez, and Blake Palmer all pitched in the loss. Collectively they allowed 15 runs on 12 hits with three walks and had just one strikeout.
Thursday’s game at Fort Thomas went in their favor. Joseph City scored one in the first, and two in the second, third and fourth innings, added one in the fifth, and finished the Apaches off with five runs in the sixth inning of the 13-0 win.
Johnstun went 1 for 4, Chairez was 2 for 2, and Owen Beatty went 2 for 2 with a home run. Eli James went 2 for 4 with a triple; Cort Miller, 1 for 1; Palmer, 2 for 2; Penrod, 3 for 4 with a home run; and Landon Miller was 1 for 2.
Chairez, Palmer and Brody Penrod each pitched two innings. Only Penrod allowed a hit. Together they had just two walks and collected 12 strikeouts.
Their only close game of the week came on Saturday. Hosting Superior, neither team scored in the first frame. They matched each other with single runs in the second. Joseph City edged in front with a run in the third. The Wildcats extended their lead to 5-1, with three in the fifth. The Panthers rallied in the sixth tying the game at 5-5. They pulled in front with two in the top of the seventh. Joseph City failed to score in the home half, dropping the game 7-5.
Joseph City enters this week with an overall mark of 11-7. They were ranked 11th at the beginning of the week with a 3-5 regular season record.
A busy week lies ahead. After playing a doubleheader in Ash Fork on Tuesday, they will host Fort Thomas on Thursday, then travel to Superior on Saturday.
