The Olton Mustangs dropped a tough contest in Littlefield to the New Deal Lions on Wednesday, 11-9, a game which was originally scheduled for Tuesday in Olton.
With the loss, the Mustangs fall to 6-3 in district play.
Alan Vasquez got Aiden Ysaguirre to strike out looking for out number one Ray Alonzo doubled to center field and Tyler Bigham singled on an error by Cole Montgomery at shortstop, putting runners on the corners. Jarred Galloway was hit by a pitch to load the bases for New Deal, but Vasquez got David Aguirre to pop up to Fabian Gutierrez at third base for out number two.
Alonzo scored on a past ball, as the other runners advanced 90feet to make the score, 1-0, and Bryson Houston hit a blooper between third and shortstop that rolled into left field allowing two more runs to score, pushing their lead to, 3-0. Vasquez would get Atreyu Wilson to go down looking to retire the side.
Olton was kept scoreless in the home-half of the first, and in the top of the second Tristan Bigham singled on an error by Montgomery at shortstop to lead things off for the Lions. Destry Griffis hit a sacrifice grounder to Jett Tomsu at second base, who bobbled it but was able to get the out at first for out number one.
Vasquez got Ysaguirre to strike out swinging for out number two, but Tristan Bigham took third on a past ball and scored on another past ball, pushing their lead to, 40, before Alonzo drew a walk. Tyler Bigham executed a hit-andrun through the left side and he took second on a throw past Fabian Gutierrez at third.
Galloway knocked a two-RBI single past Jett Tomsu at second base, pushing their lead to, 6-0. Aguirre and Houston drew backto- back walks for the Lions and Wilson followed it up with an RBIsingle through the left side to make the score, 7-0. Vasquez would get Tristan Bigham to fly out to Jacob Marquez in left-center field to retire the side.
Both teams went scoreless until the bottom of the third when the Mustangs found a little bit of offense. Marquez singled under the glove of Wilson at shortstop and Montgomery followed it up with a bunt, putting runners on the corners for the Mustangs. Montgomery took second on a pitch, before Adolfo Garcia ripped an RBI double up the middle, Montgomery retreated back to third and then scored on a bad throw to third, trimming the lead to, 7-2.
Garcia took third on a past ball, before Jett Tomsu struck out swinging for out number one, but Eddie Ramirez drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Olton. Ramirez took second on a pitch, as Garcia scored on the throw down to second cutting the lead to, 7-3. However, Gutierrez would strike out looking and Vasquez would strike out swinging to end the rally.
Montgomery and the Mustang defense kept the Lions quiet in the top of the fourth and in the bottom half of the inning, Victor Reyes and Jaxon Tomsu both struck out swinging for two outs, but Marquez singled past Griffis at second base. He took second on a pitch and then swiped third on another pitch and scored on a bad throw down to third, trimming the lead to, 7-4. Montgomery, though, would strike out swinging to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth, Montgomery returned to the mound for the Mustangs, as Wilson knocked a single through the left side and then he took second on a pitch to get into scoring position for the Lions. Tristan Bigham knocked an RBI-double into right field on an error by Vasquez, stretching the lead back out to, 8-4.
Montgomery would get Griffis to strike out swinging for out number one before he was relieved by Reyes on the mound. Ysaguirre flew out to Ramirez in left-center field for out number two, but Alonzo ripped an RBI-single down the third base line to push their lead to, 9- 4. Tyler Bigham grounded out to Gutierrez at third to retire the side.
Garcia reached base safely on a dropped third strike to open the bottom of the fifth for Olton and Jett Tomsu drew a walk to put two runners on. Camden Smith relieved Tristan Bigham on the mound for the Lions, as Ramirez knocked a single into right field to drive in a run. He took second on the throw home, making the score, 9-5.
Gutierrez struck out looking for out number one. Vasquez struck out, but Jett Tomsu scored on a bad throw down to third and Ramirez advanced to third with two outs and the lead cut to, 9-6. Reyes drew a walk to put runners on the corners and Jaxon Tomsu singled on an error by Smith on the mound, as another run scored to trim the lead to, 9-7.
Marquez singled on a throwing error to first by Griffis and another throwing error by Houston allowed a second run to score to tie the game, 9- 9. Montgomery, though, would ground out to Wilson at shortstop to end the inning.
The game would stay tied until the seventh inning, when the Lions pushed two runs across in the top half, before keeping the Mustangs off the board in the bottom half of the inning, as Olton dropped the contest, 11-9.
Vasquez pitched the first two innings and the last inning for the Mustangs giving up nine runs and four walks, while earning five strike outs. Montgomery went 2.1 innings givinb up one walk and one run, while earning three strikeouts. Reyes also pitched 1.2 innings in relief duty.