JCHS Lady Cats Look Good As 2008 Softball Season Opens

By Greg Perkins
   Joseph City’s Lady Wildcats have gotten off to a quick start, which is not surprising with Coach Teddi Baird at the helm. Eighteen girls came out for this year’s team, including seniors Ashley Bushman, Kristjana Carlisle, Leah Kuhse, and Cassie Pugh, juniors Tahlissa Blosser, Morgan McLaughlin, and Megan Poudrier, sophomores Jessica Burt, Chante Cline, Shelby Fish, Shealynn Hill, Jaci Penrod and Sammi Perry, and freshmen Chea Cavin, Ivorie Cochran, Tiffany Ekstrand, Brianna Massey and Chevaun Spurlock.
   Coach Baird’s assistants include Kacey Halbison, who coaches the junior varsity team, and Johnny Pen-rod and Becky Rice, who are both volunteer coaches.
   The Lady Cats opened the season at Show Low on Feb. 26 and played well, despite taking a 3-1 loss. They had the tying run on second base in that game, but were unable to push it across. Ivorie Cochran, who is just a freshman, collected nine strike outs against the 3A Lady Cougars.
   Last weekend Joseph City competed in the Page tournament, where the Lady Cats came away with the third place trophy. They soundly beat Fredonia 20-0, then took down 4A Page in a 7-0 shutout. Monument Valley was the next victim with Joseph City picking up an 11-3 win and in their final game on Friday, Rough Rock fell 14-0 behind a no hitter thrown by Megan Poudrier.
   Tuba City got the upper hand on Saturday, handing the Lady Cats a 8-4 loss, which put them in the third place game against St. Johns. In that game both teams battled through five scoreless innings, when the Lady Wildcats were able to score three runs to take the lead. A defensive stand in the top of the seventh inning gave the girls third place with a 3-0 win.
   Leah Kuhse pitched the games against Fredonia, Monument Valley and Tuba City, going 2-1 with a total of 15 strike outs. Ivorie Cochran faced Page and St. Johns, recording 11 strike outs.
   After seeing the Lady Redskins again in St. Johns on Thursday, the Lady Wildcats will return home to host Williams on Tuesday, March 11, in their conference opener. Next weekend they will be in action at the Winslow Invitational tournament.