By Greg Perkins Joseph City got their season off the ground last week but they failed to find a win in their first three outings. Playing in Chino Valley on Tuesday the Wildcats were shut out 4-0. If not for the third inning, the two teams were evenly matched. The Cougars scored the game’s only four runs in the bottom of the third. Joseph City had just one hit in the game, that by Colter Westover who went 1 for 3. Avery Buckley pitched 2.2 innings giving up two runs on two hits. Karter Lampsa worked 2.1 innings also giving up two runs on four hits. Bannon Johnstun pitched one scoreless inning. Hosting St. Johns on Thursday the Wildcats fell behind early with the Redskins scoring twice in the top of the first. Joseph City pulled ahead with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. St. Johns tied the game in the fifth, then scored four in the sixth and put the game out of reach with six runs in the seventh inning to win the game 13-4. Owen Beatty went 2 for 4; Buckley 2 for 2; and Lampsa 2 for 2, with a double. Tyler Penrod and Jay Edwards also doubled in their only hits. Buckley worked 5.1 innings allowing four runs on six hits, with a walk and nine strikeouts. Playing in Holbrook on Friday, the Wildcats trailed 5-1 after the first two innings and didn’t score another run after that in the 9-1 Roadrunner win. This week Joseph City will play at Alchesay on Tuesday. On Friday they travel to Bagdad, then on Monday they will be in Round Valley. Next Tuesday the team welcomes in Williams. The Wildcats entered this week with an 0-3 mark.
