The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team got their 2025 season under way on Monday, as they fell on the road to the Trinity Christian Lions, 11-1.
In the top of the first inning, Major McNeese gave the Wildcats a base runner with a lead-off single to right field, but he would be picked off at first by Brance Lecker for out number one. Adam MacDonald and Ian Mendez drew back-to-back walks and they stole second and third, before Bradyn Redman was thrown out at first by Rhett Highley on a dropped third strike for out number two.
Gabriel Villanueva would fly out to Cooper Young in center field to retire the side.
In the home-half of the first, JJ Martinez led things off for the Lions with a line drive to right field for a single. Kyle Moczygemba singled to center field and Highley singled on a bunt to Marcquis Rosemond at third base to load the bases for the Lions. However, McNeese would bounce back on the mound, as he got Hunter Molinar to strike out swinging for out number one.
Young struck out looking and Lecker popped out to Rosemond at third base, as McNeese worked out of a bases-loaded jam.
In the top of the second, Jakob Kirkland struck out swinging, but Rosemond was hit by a pitch to give the Wildcats a base runner. Littlefield was unable to capitalize, as Gabe Mata popped up to Martinez at second base for out number two and Dawson Adkins flew out to Young in center field to retire the side.
Colt Condren got the bottom half of the second going with a single to Mendez at shortstop, before Cooper Nesmith flew out to Kirkland in right field for out number one. Noah Hasse ripped an RBI-double to center field to put the Lions in front, 1- 0. Martinez grounded out to Adkins at second base for out number two, as Hasse advanced to third on the play.
Moczygemba singled on a fly ball to center field that fell in for an RBI-single to make the score, 2-0. However, Moczygema was caught stealing to end the inning.
McNeese drew a lead off walk for the Wildcats to begin the third inning and MacDonald laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Highly behind the plate and thrown to first for the out, as McNeese advanced to second on the play. McNeese stole third before Mendez singled on a ground ball to Moczygemba at shortstop to score McNeese and cut the lead to, 2-1. The Wildcats were unable to keep it going, as Mendez was caught stealing for out number two and Redman flew out to Young in center field to retire the side.
McNeese would retire the Lions in order in the bottom of the third inning, as Highley struck out swinging, Molinar grounded out to McNeese on the mound and Young struck out swinging to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Villanueva laid down a bunt that was fielded by Lecker on the mound, who threw to first for the out. Kirkland singled to left field and Rosemond was hit by a pitch, but Rosemond was caught stealing second and Mata grounded out to Molinar at third base to retire the side.
The Lions would break through again in the bottom of the fourth, as Lecker and Condren had backto- back singles to lead things off. Nesmith hit into a fielder’s choice to Rosemond at third base, who tagged out Lecker advancing to third for out number one. McNeese got Hasse to strike out looking for out number two, but Martinez singled to center field to drive in a run and Moczygemba ripped an RBI-double to right field to make the score, 4-1.
Highley singled on an error by Redman in center field, bringing in two more runs to stretch the lead to, 6- 1, before Molinar grounded out to MacDonald at first base to end the inning.
The Lions would add two runs in the fifth inning and three in the sixth inning to walk it off, taking the contest, 11-1.
McNeese took the mound to start the game for the Wildcats pitching 3.2 innings, giving up 10 hits and six runs, four earned, while earning five strikeouts. Mendez went two innings, giving up one hit, three walks and five runs, one earned. Villanueva gave up one walk in the contest.
The Wildcats were in tournament play in Post Feb. 20th to the 22nd. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Monday with a home game against Sundown.
First-pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.