The Wildcats are clinging to a post season playoff position as they await the final games to be played in 1A around the state. Joseph City entered Saturday’s home game with Ash Fork/Seligman ranked 15th. As long as they stay at 16 or higher they will play in the state playoffs which get underway on Saturday May 2, at higher seed sites. The Wildcats will be on the road, but they should be in the postseason.
They helped their cause by going 3-1 in four games played last week. Monday, they had no issue sweeping both games of a double header with Greyhills Academy.
Joseph City won the first game 25-5. Five first inning runs followed by 10 in the second left little doubt as to the final outcome. Greyhills managed just 1 hit in the loss.
Colten Larsen pitched four innings allowing 3 runs on only 1 hit with 1 strikeout and 3 walks. Kyan Larsen pitched one frame giving up 2 runs, no hits with 2 strikeouts and 5 walks.
At the plate, the Wildcats had 17 hits. Tytan went 3 for 5 with a double. Christian Delgado was 2 for 3; Kase Fish, 2 for 3; and Kregar Kinlicheenie, 2 for 3. JJ Sander and Colten Larsen each had a double.
Game two had less Wildcat scores but still resulted in an easy 14-1 Joseph City win. They scored 5 runs in each of the first two innings, then added 2 in the third, and two final runs in the fourth.
Trak Fish pitched four innings giving up 1 run on 1 hit with 7 strikeouts and walked 1.
Kase Fish, Heston Miller, Justin Gardner and Cort Miller all hit doubles in the win.
Wednesday Joseph City fell at home to fifth-ranked Williams. The game was a pitcher’s duel until the bottom of the sixth where Joseph City took a 1-0 lead. The Vikings scored 5 runs in the top of the seventh to win the game 5-1.
Joseph City had just 3 hits in the loss. Tytan Penrod went 1 for 2 with an RBI double. Colton Larsen was 1 for 3 and Kase Fish went 1 for 1.
Cort Miller pitched six innings giving up 2 runs on 6 hits with a strikeout and 4 walks. Kase Fish pitched one inning allowing 3 runs on 4 hits with 1 strikeout.
Joseph City’s final regular season game was Saturday afternoon. Hosting Ash Fork/Seligman the Wildcats held the Spartans without a hit in the 14-0 win. Joseph City scored twice in the first and blew the game open with a 10-run second inning.
They wrapped up the regular season with an overall record of 12-11-1. They were 8-8 in regular season contests and should make the postseason tournament. The final 1A rankings won’t be released until later this week, but Joseph City should expect to be in the field, albeit on the road in the first round of the 1A playoffs on Saturday.
