Getting some timely hitting and good pitching, the Ponca City Wildcats easily defeated Putnam City West 9-1 in a game Saturday at the Po-Hi baseball field.

The Wildcats wasted little time in building a lead, scoring four runs in the first inning. They added four in the third and ended the game by run rule with a score in the sixth.

Zeke Branstetter pitched a gem for Ponca City, working all six innings and allowing only two hits. Branstetter allowed one earned run and struck out six Putnam West batters. He walked two.

Ponca City outhit the visitors 9-2. Brody Wicker led the Wildcat hitting surge with three hits. Getting one hit each were Grant Harmon, Tabron Stanton, Brett Haney, Corey Marazas, Nate Harbeson and Gavin Cunningham.

In the four-run first inning, Wicker singled with one out. Carson Williams was hit by a pitch and Collier Lively was inserted as a courtesy runner for Williams. Both runners scored on a single by Haney. Hunter Freeman was hit by a pitch and advanced on a wild pitch. Marazas singled driving home Haney and Freeman.

The Wildcats loaded the bases in the second, but did not score. Harmon walked, Wicker doubled and Williams was hit by a pitch again.

In the third, Freeman started the process with a walk. Marazas followed by drawing a walk. Tyson Dewberry was inserted as a runner for Marazas. Harbeson singled, and Cunningham reached on an error that allowed Freeman to score. Harmon grounded into a fielder’s choice that allowed Dewberry to score. Wicker followed with a single that scored Wicker. Williams was hit by a pitch for the third time and Stanton also was hit by a pitch forcing Harmon across the plate.

In the sixth inning, Cunningham singled and Harmon’s double scored Cunningham with the run that gave Ponca City an eight-run lead, large enough to end the game via run rule.

The Wildcats are now 5-19. They were scheduled to play games with Booker T. Washington Monday and Tuesday, with the Monday game set for Ponca City.

PONCA CITY 9, PUTNAM CITY WEST 1

Putnam West 001 000 -- 1 2 1

Ponca City 404 001 -- 9 9 0

Ponca City 404 001 -- 9 9 0 Ponca City: Zeke Branstetter and Carson Williams.

Putnam West: M. Byers, T. Gresham (3).

W: Branstetter. L: Byers.

2B: Grant Harmon (PC), Brody Wicker (PC).