Lady Cats Look Good As They Take Second In Winslow Tournament

By Greg Perkins
   Through the first 16 games of the softball season, the Lady Wildcats of Joseph City have posted an impressive mark with 12 wins, three losses and a tie.
   One of those wins was their first conference game of the year against Williams on March 11. In that match-up the Lady Cats came out on top 11-3, helped in part by power hitting. Several players had key hits in the game, but two Lady Wildcats knocked the ball over the fence. Morgan McLaughlin went three for three with one of those home run blasts and Tahlissa Blosser went two for three with the other. Chante Cline went three for three, Brianna Massey had two hits, and Megan Poudrier and Shealynn Hill each had one hit. Ivorie Cochran was the winning pitcher.
   Playing in the large Winslow Tournament last weekend, Joseph City came home with a second place finish.
   The Lady Cats opened pool play against Ganado, picking up a relatively easy 7-0 win. Megan Poudrier picked up the win in the circle.
   Early Friday morning the Wildcats met up with Sinagua and the two ended up in a 2-2 tie. Playing under a time limit both teams scored a pair of runs in the third inning, then in the bottom of the fifth with runners on first and second with no outs, the game was called due to time restraints, leaving the Lady Cats with the tie. Ivorie Cochran was in the circle when the game was called.
   Next up was Many Farms and this game was nowhere near a tie as the Lady Wildcats posted an 11-0 shutout behind a strong pitching performance from Sammi Perry.
   Megan Poudrier matched that performance in their next game, pitching a 12-0 shutout over Piñon to complete pool play.
   The Lady Wildcats ended pool play in a tie for first with Sinagua, and since the two teams tied in their head to head match-up, a coin toss determined Joseph City was the pool winner.
   The Lady Cats started bracket play early on Saturday morning, facing Snowflake. A 5-3 victory over the Lady Lobos with Ivorie Cochran in the circle advanced them to the semifinal round, where they were matched up with Camp Verde.
   Megan Poudrier once again pitched well and her team backed her up with a 6-2 win, sending the Lady Wildcats to the championship round.
   In the title game the Lady Cats faced the host team Winslow Lady Bulldogs and played tough, but ended up losing a good game by a final of 5-2.
    “Our team showed a lot of heart and determination in the tournament. They are young, enthusiastic and fun to watch. We appreciate all the support from our fans,” said Coach Teddi Baird.
   After games with Blue Ridge and Tuba City earlier this week, the Lady Cats now have some time off for spring break to prepare for a doubleheader at Ash Fork on Friday, April 4, followed by a doubleheader with visiting Seligman the next day.