The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team scratched for a, 6-3, win over the Dimmitt Bobcats on Saturday in their first meeting of the season.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 14-5 overall, 5-1 in district play.
The game went scoreless through the first two innings, as neither team was able to break through on the scoreboard.
In the top of the third, Ian Mendez gave up back-to-back singles to Baylor Navarro and Jadrian Herrera, before Uriel Prieto grounded out to Bradyn Redman at second base for out number one. Kaden Carpio lined out to Major McNeese in center field for out number two with runners on second and third.
Navarro scored on a passed ball, as Herrera advanced to third on the play, putting the Lady Cats in front, 1-0, before Mendez gave up a walk to Ga’Quorie Chatham. Herrera scored on a balk by Mendez to push the lead to, 2-0, as Chatham advanced to second on the play, but Rudy Fuentes popped up to Adam MacDonald in foul territory on the first-base side to retire the side.
In the home-half of the third, Gabriel Villanueva singled on a grounder to Chatham at first base and he stole second on a pitch, before McNeese hit a sacrifice grounder to Chatham at first, moving Villanueva over to third with one out. MacDonald hit a sacrifice grounder to Kree Bruton on the mound, who got the out at first, as Villanueva scored to trim the lead to, 2-1, with two outs. Redman would strike out swinging to end the inning.
The Wildcats kept the Bobcats quiet in the fourth inning, as Mendez got Diego Villareal to strike out swinging, before Jaden Rodriguez reached base on a dropped third strike passed ball. Bruton would ground out to Redman at second base for out number two and Navarro struck out swinging to retire the side.
The Wildcats began the bottom half of the fourth inning with backto- back walks by Chip Green and Gabe Mata and Mendez laid down a bunt, reaching on an error by Bruton to load the bases. Jakob Kirkland singled on an error by Chatham at first base, scoring Green and moving Mata and Mendez to second and third, as the game was tied, 2-2.
Jayden Kirkland hit into a fielder’s choice to Bruton on the mound, as Mata scored and Mendez moved up to third and Jakob Kirkland to second, as Littlefield took the lead, 3-2. Villanueva struck out swinging for out number one and McNeese hit a sacrifice grounder to Chatham at first base for out number two, as Mendez scored to push their lead to, 4-2. MacDonald would fly out to Carpio in left field to end the inning.
Herrera singled on a line drive to center field to begin the fifth inning, but Prieto hit into a fielder’s choice to Green at shortstop, who got the out at second for out number one. Prieto advanced to second on a throwing error to first by Redman. Carpio flew out to Villanueva in foul territory for out number two and Green got Chatham to strike out swinging to retire the side.
Redman got the bottom of the fifth going with a line drive to left field, but Green popped up to Bruton on the mound for out number one. Redman stole second and third on pitched, before Mata hit a sacrifice fly ball to Rodriguez in center field, that allowed Redman to tag up and score to extend their lead to, 5-2. Mendez singled to Herrera at shortstop on an infield hit and he took second on a passed ball and third on a pitch, before Jakob Kirkland hit an RBIsingle to left field, pushing the lead to, 6-2.
Jayden Kirkland would strike out looking to end the inning.
Fuentes drew a lead off walk for Dimmitt to begin the sixth inning, but Villareal lined out to McNeese in center field and Rodriguez grounded into a double play to Green on the mound, who fired to Ian at second base, who then threw a dart to MacDonald at first base to retire the side.
In the top of the seventh, Bruton singled on an error by Mendez at shortstop, advancing to second after the ball bounced out of play. Navarro ripped an RBI-double to right field to trim the lead to, 6-3, as Green was relieved by McNeese on the mound for Littlefield.
Herrera lined out to Redman in center field for out number one, but Prieto singled to left field, putting runners on the corners for Dimmitt. McNeese got Carpio to strike out swinging for out number two and he got Chatham to go down swinging to end the game.
Mendez started on the bump for the Wildcats, pitching 4.1 innings, giving up five hits, one walk and two runs, one earned, while earning four strikeouts. Green came on in relief and pitched 1.2 innings, giivng up one hit, one walk and one run, while striking out one batter. McNeese came on to close the game, pitching one inning, giving up one hit, while earning two strike outs.