A young Ferndale Wildcats team is showing some promise early in the season, although the results continue to go against them.

On Tuesday, the Cats fell 8-4 to Willits at Ferndale High, with a pair of freshmen impressing on the mound.

Jarett Smith got the start and threw four innings, allowing seven hits and four walks and striking out three, with reliever Jonah Anderson throwing the final three innings and holding the visiting Wolverines to just one earned run.

Anderson allowed three hits and a walk and struck out two. 

“They both did more than we could have asked,” head coach Justin Andersen said. “They threw strikes, competed and got out of jams. We’ve just got to pick the ball up behind them better.”

The two freshmen each also had a base hit, while teammate Trent Titus continued his impressive start to the season at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Parker Prior, Levi Dixon and Mattias Alejandre each also had a base hit in the loss.

“We’re slowly but surely getting better,” Andersen said. “We still have a lot of learning to do, but they competed for seven innings.”

The 0-4 Cats will open league play in a doubleheader at South Fork on Saturday.