The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team shutout the Roosevelt Eagles on Monday, 140, behind a no-hitter from senior, Ian Mendez, on the mound.
Mendez gave up three walks, while striking out eight batters over five innings.
The Wildcats jumped on the Eagles early in the top of the first inning, as Major McNeese drew a lead-off walk and took second on a passed ball, before Adam MacDonald singled to left field, scoring McNeese to put the Wildcats in front, 1-0. MacDonald stole second and third on pitches, before Bradyn Redman singled on an error by Gonzales at third base. MacDonald scored on the play to push their lead to, 2-0.
Redman stole second before Chip Green flew out to Bland in center field for out number one. Gabe Mata singled up the middle to score Redman, as Mata took second on the throw in from the outfield, making the score, 3-0. Mata took third and scored on passed balls to extend their lead to, 4-0, before Mendez singled to center field to give the Wildcats another base runner.
Jakob Kirkland popped up to Macias in right field for out number two, but Mendez would steal second and Jayden Kirkland followed it up with an RBI-single to left field, scoring Mendez to make the score, 5-0. Blayton Soliz stole came on to run for the catcher, stealing second on a passed ball. Gabriel Villanueva would hit a fly ball to to left field, reaching on an error by Hatchett. Soliz scored on the play stretching their lead to, 60.
McNeese roped a line drive to right field for an RBI-single to score Villanueva, making the score, 7-0. McNeese stole second before MacDonald singled on an error by Gonzales at third base moving McNeese to third, putting runners on the corners for Littlefield. However, Redman would fly out to Hatchett in left field to retire the side.
In the home-half of the first inning, Bradshaw drew a lead-off walk, but Casarez hit a grounder to Mata at third, who threw it to Redman at second, who then fired to first for the double play. Bland would strike out looking to end the inning.
In the top of the second inning, Green reached on an error by Macias in right field to lead things off for the Wildcats and he took second on a pitch, before Mata laid down a bunt that was fielded by Johnson, who made a bad throw to first allowing Mata to take second and Green to score, pushing the lead to, 8-0. Mendez hit a sacrifice grounder to Bradshaw at second base, as Mata advanced to third with one out.
Jakob Kirkland hit a sacrifice grounder to Gonzales at shortstop, who got the out at first, as Mata scored, making the score, 9-0, with two outs. Jayden Kirkland would pop up to Grizzell at third base to retire the side.
Mendez made quick work of the Eagles in the bottom half of the second, as Vasquez lined out to McNeese in center field for out number one. Grizzell drew a walk, but Johnson flew out to Villanueva in left field for out number two and Gonzales struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Wildcats picked right back up where they left off to begin the third inning, as Villanueva singled to left-center field. He took took second on a pitch, before McNeese singled through the left side, putting runners on first and second for the Wildcats.
Grizzell relieved Johnson on the mound for the Eagles, and McNeese stole second on a throw-down to third. Villanueva would score on a passed ball to make the score, 10-0, as McNeese took third on the play. MacDonald would draw a walk and take second on a pitch. McNeese would score on the throw down to second by Vasquez to make the score, 11-0, and MacDonald took third on the throw to the plate, before Redman walked to put runners on the corners.
Green popped up to Hatchett at shortstop for out number one. Redman stole second on a pitch, before Villauneva struck out swinging and Mendez flew out to right field to retire the side.
Mendez got the Eagles to go three-up-and-three-down in the bottom half of the third, as Hatchett laid down a bunt on the third-base line that was fielded by Mendez, who threw to first for the out. Macias grounded out to Redman at second base and Bradshaw struck out looking to end the inning.
Jakob Kirkland got the Wildcats going in the top of the fourth with a double down the third-base line, but he got caught leaning, as he was picked off by Vasquez for out number one. Jayden Kirkland struck out looking for out number two, but Villanueva singled up the middle and McNeese followed it up with an RBI-double up the middle to stretch their lead to, 120.
MacDonald kept it going with an RBI-double over third to extend the Littlefield lead to, 13-0, but Redman grounded out to Grizzell on the mound to retire the side.
Mendez went back to work on the mound, as he got Casarez to strike out looking for out number one. Bland hit a grounder to third and reached base on a throwing error to first by Mata. Vasquez was hit by a pitch, but Grizzell struck out looking and Johnson struck out swinging to end the inning.
Green got the Wildcats going in the top of the fifth inning with an infield single to Bradshaw at shortstop. He would take second on a bad pick off to first by Grizzell and third on a pitch, before Mata brought him in with an RBI-single to shorstop, however, Mata would get thrown out at second as Green scored making the score, 14-0,with one out.
Mendez would ground out to first for out number two and Jakob Kirkland flew out to left field to retire the side.
Gonzales lined out to MacDonald at first for out number one in the bottom of the fifth inning and Hatchett struck out swinging for out number two. Macias drew a walk and took second on a pitch, before Bradshaw was thrown out at first on a dropped third strike to end the game with Littlefield taking the contest, 14-0.
The Wildcats were at Friona on Saturday for their first meeting with the Chieftains. Results were not available at press time. They will continue district play on Tuesday with a home game against the Slaton Tigers.
First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.