The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team held off the New Deal Lions Thursday night in their second game of the Lamb County Classic, 6-4.
With the win, the Wildcats improved to 2-0 in tournament play on the weekend.
Littlefield’s Chip Green made quick work of the Lions in the top of the first inning, as Emilio Rodriguez struck out swinging for out number one. Jackson Attebury grounded out to Ian Mendez at shortstop and Dallas Sumner struck out swinging to retire the side.
In the home-half of the first, Major McNeese had a high pop up fall in the infield for a hit and he took second on a pitch and third on a ball in the dirt, before Bradyn Redman popped up to Sumner in foul territory at first base for out number one. McNeese was caught in a rundown by Lane Proctor between third and home for out number two and Jakob Kirkland struck out looking to end the inning.
In the top of the second, Proctor singled to left field, as Ray Alonzo came on as the courtesy runner for the pitcher. He took second on a pitch and third on a passed ball, before Dylan Saldana struck out swinging for out number one. Easton Calzada drove in a run with a single to shallow center field to put the Lions in front, 1-0.
Tristan Bigham would hit a grounder up the middle that was fielded by Mendez, who stepped on second trying to turn two, but his throw was off the mark, leaving a runner on first with two outs. Green would get Colt Ramsey to strike out swinging to retire the side.
Green would get the Wildcats going in the bottom half of the inning with a single through the left side and Dawson Adkins laid down a bunt and the tag at first was missed giving Littlefield two runners. CJ Weaver struck out looking for out number one, but Green stole third on a pitch, before Adam MacDonald knocked an RBI-single up the middle to tie the game, 1-1.
He was thrown out trying for second on the play for out number two. Jayden Kirkland would chop out to Calzada at second base to end the inning.
Green went back to work on the mound in the top of the third, as David Aguirre lined out to Gabriel Villanueva in left field for out number one and Rodriguez chopped out to Redman at second base for out number two. Attebury hit a ball to Gabe Mata at third base, but a low throw to first was dropped by MacDonald to give the Lions a base runner. The Wildcats would work out of it, as Sumner grounded out to Adkins at second base to retire the side.
In the home-half of the third, Mendez drew a walk to turn the batting order over for the Wildcats. McNeese popped up to Bigham in foul territory at third base for out number one. Mendez took second on a pitch and Redman singled deep in the hole to to Attebury at shortstop and Mendez would steal third on a pitch and score on a bad throw down to third by Saldana, making the score, 2-1, as Redman went first to third on the play.
Mata hit a shot down the thirdbase line and was thrown out at first as Redman scored to stretch their lead to, 3-1. Green drew a walk and Adkins ripped an RBI-triple to left field on a do-or-die play by Ramsey, pushing their lead to, 41. Weaver would strike out swinging to end the inning.
The score remained until the bottom of the fifth inning with the Wildcats up to bat. Redman singled on a slow roller to Attebury at shortstop to give Littlefield a runner. Blayton Soliz laid down a bunt on the first-base side and was out at first, as Redman went firstto- third on the play. Green hit a chopper to Attebury at shortstop for an RBI-single, stretching their lead to, 5-1.
Green took second on a pitch before Adkins struck out looking for out number two. Green took third on a ball away from the catcher and scored on a passed ball to make the score, 6-1, before Weaver drew a walk. Anastascio Ayala came on as the pinch runner, as Alonzo relieved Proctor on the mound. He would get MacDonald to chop out to Attebury at shortstop to end the inning.
The Wildcats would keep the Lions quiet until the top of the seventh when Bigham drew a lead-off walk to give New Deal a base runner. Alonzo popped up to Adkins for out number one, but Aguirre singled to left field and Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to load the bases for New Deal.
Villanueva relieved Mata on the mound for Littlefield, as Attebury hit into a fielder’s choice to Mendez at shortstop, who got the out at third, as the Lions scored to trim the lead to, 6-2, with two outs. Sumner drove an RBI-single to right field to cut the lead to, 6-3, with runners on the corners. Sumner stole second and the thrown down to third by Kirkland was dropped by Green allowing Attebury to score, cutting the lead to, 6-4.
Villanueva was relieved on the mound by Mendez, as Saldana hit a shot to shortstop that was backhanded by Green, but the throw to first pulled MacDonald off the bag to load the bases for the Lions. Mendez, though, would get Calzada to strike out swinging to end the game.
Green started on the bump for the Wildcats, giving up five hits, one walk and one run, while striking out six. Mata pitched 1.1 innings, giving up two hits, one walk and three runs, while striking out two. Villanueva pitched 0.1 innings, giving up one hit and one walk and Mendez pitched 0.1 innings giving up one hit, while earning a strikeout.