It has been a long and frustrating season for the Paden City Wildcat varsity baseball team this season. Ending up with a 4-18 win/loss record, the ‘Cats have battled inexperience, weather, postponements and cancellations in order to bring the 2011 season to an end.

The team finished up the 2011 season on May 11, playing in the Region I, Section II tournament at Valley.

The ‘Cats fell in the last game, 8-3. The Jacks scored eight runs on 10 hits and had two errors in the game, while Paden City scored three runs on seven hits and committed four errors.

Kyle Postlethwait controlled the mound for the Green and White, walking four and striking out three.

At the plate, Jared Stewart made some noise with home run in the sixth inning, a triple and two singles for one RBI. James Baker singled for two RBI’s; Zach Yost, Ben Anderson, Jay Billiter and Trey Leonard each singled in the game.

The loss put an end to the long season for the Green.

“The kids gave their best,” said head coach of the ‘Cats, Brent Croasmun. “We have some good kids on the team, but we’ve lacked experience, and that made the difference.”

Leading the team with the bat this season has been junior Jared Stewart who has hammered three home runs, hit three triples and five doubles for a batting average of .329 on the year. Baker hit seven doubles and a triple for an average of .264. Junior Taylor Still hit five doubles.

Yost was an offensive threat for the Green when on base, stealing 38 in the ’11 season.

“Zach has been a four year starter for us,” Croasmun said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked of him, and done it well. He is a tremendous outfielder and we would have loved to keep him there, but due to our numbers and lack of experienced infielders we’ve had to move him to several positions. He never complains, goes where he is needed and does a great job where ever he is. He will definitely be missed when the season starts next year.”

The 2012 ‘Cats will likely see the return of juniors Stewart, Trey Leonard, Still, Ben Anderson, Billiter, Matt Barker, James Baker and Kyle Staton, all now with experience on the field and at the plate.

Next year’s pitching staff also looks to be stronger with several members of the team getting experience on the mound this season.

“The boys tried their best this year,” Croasmun said. “Our season did not turn out as we had hoped it would, but we gave it our best shot.”

The baseball team will likely fill their roster next year with the large senior class, pepper it with a junior or two, scatter a few sophomores here and there and are looking for a large freshman class to lay a new foundation.