The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team dropped a heartbreaker in their district-opener on Tuesday at Idalou, falling, 8-7.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 9-5 overall, 0-1 in district play.
Major McNeese got the Wildcats going with a single to left field to start the game, and he took second on a passed ball, before Bradyn Redman struck out swinging for out number one. Jakob Kirkland was hit by a pitch, but Chip Green struck out swinging and Dawson Adkins grounded out to JT Phillips at first base to retire the side.
In the home-half of the first, Cooper Wilson drew a lead-off walk for Idalou, but McNeese got Kash Koontz to strike out looking for out number one. Jake Caffey drew a walk and Kye Gauger ripped a two-RBI double to left-center field to put them in front, 2-0. McNeese got Gentry Pounds and Thomas Pirtle to strike out swinging to end the inning.
The score stood until the top of the third inning, when McNeese singled to left-center field to give Littlefield a base runner. McNeese took second on a pitch, before Redman lined out to Koontz in center field for out number one. McNeese stole third and scored on a bad throw down to third by Pirtle to cut the lead to, 2-1, before Jakob Kirkland struck out swinging for out number two.
Green was called out swinging on a check-swing to retire the side.
The Littlefield defense tightened up in the bottom of the third, as Koontz grounded out to Green at third for out number one. Caffey hit a soft fly to Adkins at second base for out number two and Gauger flew out to Gabriel Villanueva in left-center field to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Adkins was hit by a pitch to lead things off and Ian Mendez singled to center field, putting runners on first and second. Adam MacDonald ripped an RBI-single through the right side, scoring Adkins and putting Mendez on third with the score, 2-2. Jayden Kirkland hit a sacrifice fly to Koontz in center field, allowing Mendez to tag up and score, putting Littlefield in front, 3-2, with one out.
Villanueva laid down a bunt that was fielded by Pounds in front of the mound, who went to the plate on the fielder’s choice, but MacDonald was safe, making the score, 4-2. Villanueva took second on a pitch, before McNeese struck out looking for out number two. Redman would rope an RBI-double to the left-center field fence to push their lead to, 5-2.
Redman stole third and scored on a passed ball to stretch the lead to, 6-2, before Jakob Kirkland drew a walk. Green singled to left-center field, but Adkins struck out looking to retire the side.
Littlefield held the four run lead until they returned to bat in the top of the sixth inning. Villanueva laid a bunt down on the third base side and singled on an error by Gauger. A balk by Colt Gandy put Villanueva on second, before McNeese flew out to Koontz in center field for out number one. Villanueva took third on a ball away from Pirtle behind the plate and Redman drew a walk putting runners on the corners for Littlefield.
Jakob Kirkland had an RBIsingle fall in right field, as Villanueva scored, but Redman was thrown out at second for out number two, as Littlefield pushed their lead to, 7-2. Green, though, would fly out to center field to retire the side.
In the home-half of the sixth, Pirtle hit a shot to center field, making it to third on an error by Redman. McNeese got Phillips to strike out swinging and Gandy to go down looking, before Noah Vasquez knocked an RBI-single to right field, trimming the lead to, 73. Wilson ripped an RBI-double to left-center field that was missed by Villanueva, making the score, 7-4, but Koontz struck out swinging to end the inning.
Littlefield was kept off the board in the top of the seventh and in the bottom half of the inning, Green relieved McNeese on the mound for Littlefield.
Caffey hit a shot up the middle that was backhanded by Redman at second base, but on a close play at first the runner was called safe to give Idalou a base runner. Gauger singled on an error by Redman at second base and Pounds walked to load the bases. Pirtle hit a sacrifice fly to left-center field that was caught by McNeese, as a run tagged and scored from third base to make the score, 7-5.
Phillips singled through the left side and Gandy followed it up with a hit through the right side that got by Jakob Kirkland in right field for a three-RBI walk-off, as Idalou took the contest, 8-7.
McNeese threw six innings for the Wildcats, giving up five hits, four walks and four runs, two earned, while striking out eight. Green pitched 0.1 innings, giving up three hits, one walk and four runs, two earned.
The Wildcats hosted Muleshoe on Saturday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a road game against Roosevelt.
First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.