The Wildcats baseball team is looking to improve on last year’s 7-10 performance, which ended in the first round of the 1A state tournament.
Head Coach Shawn Layden currently has 15 players on his young varsity roster. The players include just two seniors, Latrelle Kinlicheenie and Nate Flores. Juniors on the squad are Colter Westover, Avery Buckley and Jay Edwards. Sophomores on the team are John Weightman, Karter Lampsa, Tyler Penrod, Mason Hancock and T.J. Westover. Freshmen on the team include Bannon Johnstun, Jareon Miller, Owen Beatty, Jacob Halbison and Brody Penrod.
Over the weekend the Wildcats played their first tournament of the season competing in the Patriot Baseball Kick-Off Classic hosted by American Leadership Academy Queen Creek. The Cats opened play on Thursday with a 0-10 loss to Window Rock. The Scouts scored once in the first, added two in the second, one in the third and finished off the game with six runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Friday’s game resulted in an 8-8 tie with Coronado. The Wildcats fought back from an 0-2 deficit in the first with five runs in the second. Coronado moved back in front with four in the second to lead by one. The Cats tied the game at 8-8, with two runs in the top of the fourth frame when the game was called due to time constraints leaving the teams in an 8-8 tie.
In their final game of the tournament, the Wildcats faced American Leadership Academy Ironwood’s Warriors. The home team scored once in the first but opened the game up with seven second inning runs then finished off the Cats with four in the third. Joseph City did score once in the fourth but dropped the contest 1-12.
After hosting Round Valley on Tuesday of this week to open their regular season, Joseph City will travel to Sedona on Thursday. Next Tuesday they play at St. Johns.
