After a nice run at the Sectional title, the Paden City varsity baseball team has hung up their cleats for another year, after falling to Cameron to end their season.

“It’s been a very interesting year,” said head coach of the Wildcats, Brent Croasmun. “We came into the year not knowing if we’d even win one game, and ended up with 12 wins. Not bad. I’m really proud of the kids. They hung right in there.”

In the first game of the Sectional Tournament on May 13 in Paden City, the ‘Cats met defeat at the hands of theValley Lumberjacks, 10-8.

Valley jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and added four more runs in the third to distance themselves from their hosts. Though Paden City came on strong adding three runs in the third and two in both the fourth and fifth, Valley was able to hang on for the win. The Wildcats scored eight runs on nine hits and had three errors in the game.

Senior Josh Bennett was on the mound for the ‘Cats, throwing seven strike outs and five walks in six innings. Malakai Anderson came on in relief, striking out one.

Offensively for the Green, Anderson and Jamie Billiter each singled; Zach Yost, Taylor Still, and Trey Leonard each singled to bring home an RBI apiece; Bennett hit two singles for one RBI; Jared Stewart hit two singles; and Matt Barker and Mitchell Stewart each hit runs in.

On May 14 at Cameron, Paden City dominated their next game with Valley, downing the Lumberjacks, 9-3. The ‘Cats scored their nine runs on nine hits and committed one error in the contest.

Mitchell Stewart got the win on the mound for the Green, striking out five batters and walking two in seven innings.

“Mitchell did a heck of a job,” Croasmun said. “He was strong and stayed with it, I was very proud of him, and he got the win.”

At the plate, Yost hit a home run and a double for two RBI’s; Bennett hit three singles for one RBI; Taylor Still hit a single to collect two RBI’s; Jared Stewart singled for an RBI; Mitchell Stewart and Ben Anderson each singled; and Billiter had one RBI.

Paden City faced off with the Dragons of Cameron at Cameron on May 15 in the Sectional championship. Strong play by Cameron and eight errors by the Wildcats told the story of the Dragon’s 11-1 win for the title.

The ‘Cats scored their one run on one hit in the game.

Anderson was on the mound for the Green and White, pitching five strike outs and three walks in five innings.

The only hits for Paden City were credited to Jared Stewart, a single; and Bennett’s sacrifice for an RBI.

“We haven’t hit real well all year, and this game was no exception,” said the coach. “The hits we did get, we hit right at people, we weren’t able to place them very well. And we just had to many errors to overcome.”

The Wildcats finished the 2010 season with a 12-13 win/loss record.

With the loss of the three seniors on the team, Anderson, Bennett and Stewart, to graduation, Paden City will be losing the majority of their on-field experience. “Our three seniors have contributed a lot to our victories this year,” Croasmun said. “These are three fine young men and we were fortunate to have them. They brought a lot to the team.”