The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team swept their season series with Roosevelt on Saturday, taking down the Eagles, 5-0, at Wildcat Field.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 16-7 overall, 7-3 in district play.
In the top of the first inning, Cooper Bland lined out to Dawson Adkins at third for the first out of the inning, and Cameron Vasquez flew out to Major McNeese in center field for out number two. Ryan Bradshaw singled up the middle to give the Eagles a base runner, but Hunter Johnson hit a shot down the third-base line that was back-handed by Adkins, who threw to first for the out to retire the side.
In the home-half of the first, McNeese laid a drag-bunt down the third-base line, but it was fielded by Gavin Gonzales and thrown to first for the out. Adam MacDonald drew a walk to give the Wildcats their first base-runner of the game, but Chip Green flew out to center field for out number two. Jakob Kirkland singled through the left side, but Adkins chopped out to Bradshaw at shortstop to end the inning.
In the top of the second, the Eagles chopped out to Adkins at third base for out number one and Gonzales flew out to McNeese in center field for out number two. Green got Cole Hatchett to go down swinging to retire the side.
The Wildcats couldn’t get anything going in the bottom half of the inning, as Bradyn Redman flew out to Bland in leftcenter field for out number one. Ian Mendez slapped a pop up to Espiry Beltran for out number two and Jayden Kirkland went down looking to end the inning.
Green went right back to work on the mound for Littlefield, as he retired the next three Eagles in order. He got Beltran to go down looking and both Matthew Taylor and Bland went down swinging to retire the side.
In the bottom of the third, Gabriel Villanueva flew out to center field for out number one, but McNeese picked him up with a double down the left-field line to get into scoring position. McNeese broke on a pitch, as MacDonald hit a short fly that fell in front of second base. He was thrown out at second, but McNeese scored on the throw to first to put the Wildcats in front, 1-0.
Green was hit by a pitch and Jakob Kirkland hit a chopper deep in the hole to Bradshaw at shortstop, beating the throw to first, as Green went first-to-third on the play putting runners on the corners. Jakob Kirkland stole second on a pitch, but Green was picked off at third on the play to end the inning.
Green and the Wildcat defense made quick work of the Eagles, as he got Vasquez and Bradshaw both to strike out swinging and Johnson lined out to McNeese in left-center field to retire the side.
The score stood until the bottom of the fifth inning when the Wildcats came up to bat. Jayden Kirkland lined out to Hatchett in left field for out number one, but Villanueva singled to left-center field to give the Wildcats a base runner. McNeese flew out to deep left- center field for out number two, but during the next at-bat Villanueva stole second and third on pitches, before MacDonald drove him in with an RBI-single to shallow left-center field to push their lead to, 20.
Green singled to center field moving MacDonald to third to put runners on the corners for Littlefield. MacDonald scored on a passed ball, as Green advanced to second, stretching the lead to, 3- 0. Jakob Kirkland ripped an RBI- double to left field to make the score, 4-0, before Adkins grounded out to second base to end the inning.
Green continued his strong performance on the mound in the top of the sixth, as he got Beltran to ground out to MacDonald at first base for out number one. Taylor struck out swinging for out number two and Bland popped up to Redman at second base to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the inning, Redman drew a lead-off walk, before stealing second on a pitch and third on a passed ball. He would score on an error by the pitcher, Vasquez, pushing the lead to, 5- 0, before Mendez struck out looking for out number two. Villanueva singled to center field, but McNeese struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Wildcats would retire the Eagles in order in the top of the seventh, as they took the contest, 5-0.
Green threw a complete game, pitching seven innings, giving up just one hit in the contest, while striking out nine batters.
The Wildcats hosted Friona on Tuesday for their second meeting of district play. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Thursday when they host the Slaton Tigers.
First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.