The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team took down the Friona Chieftains on the road on Saturday, 10-1, in their first meeting of district play.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 12-5 overall, 3-1 in district play.
Major McNeese singled through the right side to lead off the top of the first inning for the Wildcats, and Adam MacDonald laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Owen McGaughy on the mound, as he threw to first for out number one. Bradyn Redman was hit by a pitch, but Chip Green hit into a fielder’s choice to Mason Ramos at shortstop, who flipped it to Abram Rocha at second for the out. Redman was called for runner interference giving Friona a double play to retire the side.
McNeese and the Wildcat defense made quick work of the Chieftains in the home-half of the first, as Jameson Daniels chopped out to Green at third base for out number one. Aaron Rosales singled up the middle, but McGaughy flew out to Redman in right- center field and Abram Rocha hit a short pop up to Gabe Mata at second base to end the inning.
Mata led off the top of the second inning with a single over second base to give the Wildcats a base runner, but Ian Mendez flew out to Gabriel Ramos in left field for out number one. A balk put Mata on second base and Jakob Kirkland hit a sacrifice grounder up the middle that was fielded by Abram Rocha, who threw to first for the out, as Mata advanced to third with two outs.
Jayden Kirkland drew a walk, as Blayton Soliz came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher, but Gabriel Villanueva flew out to deep center field to retire the side.
McNeese got the Chieftains to go three-up-and-three-down in the bottom of the second inning, as he got Aiden Tafoya to strike out looking and he got Gabriel Ramos to strike out swinging. Mason Ramos grounded out to MacDonald at first base to end the inning.
The Wildcats would break through in the top of the third inning, after McNeese lined out to Mason Ramos at shortstop for out number one, MacDonald picked him up with a double over Aaron Rosales in center field. He took third on a pitch, before Redman struck out swinging for out number two.
Green, though, would clear the bases with a two-run homerun to left-center field, putting the Wildcats in front, 2-0. Mata singled on a slow roller to third on an error by JD Villegas, but Mendez chopped out to Villegas at third to retire the side.
Friona got a runner on board in the bottom of the third, after Rafael Rocha was hit by a pitch, but he was picked off at second by Jayden Kirkland, Mendez was there for the tag to clear the bases with one out. Villegas struck out swinging for out number two and Daniels chopped out to Mendez at shortstop to end the inning.
The score remained until the top of the fifth inning, when Redman drew a lead-off walk for the Wildcats and took second on a pitch, before Green drove him in with an RBI-single to left field, pushing their lead to, 3-0. Green would take second on a pitch and third on a passed ball before Mata walked to put runners on the corners for Littlefield.
Mata would take second on a pitch, before Mendez hit into a fielder’s choice on an error by Villegas at third; Mata advanced to third and Green scored on the play, making the score, 4- 0. Mendez took second on a pitch, before Jakob Kirkland drove in a run with a hit to Mason Ramos at shortstop, whose throw was off the mark to first, as Mata scored and Mendez advanced to third, making the score, 5-0.
Jakob Kirkland took second on a pitch and he advanced to third n a passed ball, as Mendez scored to stretch the lead to, 6-0. Jayden Kirkland struck out swinging for out number one and Villanueva struck out swinging for out number two. McNeese singled to left field to drive in a run and make the score, 7-0, before MacDonald struck out looking to retire the side.
The Wildcats kept Friona quiet in the bottom half of the fifth, and in the top of the sixth, Redman drew a lead-off walk, prompting a pitching change for the Chieftains, as McGaughy was relieved by Mason Ramos on the mound.
Redman took second on a pitch, before Green struck out swinging for out number one. Mata singled over shortstop to bring in a run and extend their lead to, 8-0, and Mendez was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Mata was caught stealing between second and third, as Mendez advanced to second on the play, but Jakob Kirkland would pop up to Rafael Rocha in foul territory at first base to retire the side.
Mata relieved McNeese on the bump to begin the bottom of the sixth inning, as Rosales singled on a chop to Redman at second base. McGaughy flew out to Jakob Kirkland in right field for out number one, but Rosales took second on a ball in the dirt and third on a ball away from Jayden Kirkland behind the plate. Abram Rocha flew out to Villanueva in shallow left field, who then fired a laser to the plate, as Jayden Kirkland tagged out Rosales for the double play to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh inning, Jayden Kirkland chopped out to McGaughy at shortstop for out number one and Villanueva struck out swinging for out number two, but McNeese doubled off of the bottom of the center-field fence to give the Wildcats a base runner. MacDonald followed it up with an RBI-double to left field to stretch the lead to, 9-0.
Redman and Green were both hit by a pitch to load the bases for Littlefield. Mata drew an RBI walk to stretch the lead to, 10-0. Abram Rocha relieved Mason Ramos on the mound for Friona, as he got Mendez to fly out to Rafael Rocha in center field to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the seventh, Mata got Tafoya fly out to Villanueva in left field for out number one, but Gabriel Ramos doubled to left-center field to give Friona a base runner. He took third on a wild pitch and Mason Ramos singled up the middle to bring in a run, trimming the lead to, 10-1. Rafael Rocha struck out swinging, but the Chieftains executed a hitand- run, as Mason Ramos broke on the pitch to Villegas, who knocked a single through the left side, putting runners on the corners for Friona.
Mata, though, would get Daniels to fly out to McNeese in center field to end the game, as Littlefield took the contest, 10-1.
McNeese started on the mound for the Wildcats pitching five innings, giving up two hits, while striking out six batters. Mata came in to close out the contest, pitching two innings, giving up four hits and one run, while earning one strikeout.
The Wildcats were at Slaton on Tuesday to take on the Tigers. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Saturday with a home game against Dimmitt.
First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.