The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team picked up a win in game one of their double-header on Friday against Slaton, 7-1.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 1-0-1 in tournament play on the weekend.
Both teams went scoreless through the first inning, but in the top of the second inning, Ayden Ramirez singled up the middle to give the Tigers a base runner. Trent Wright struck out swinging for out number one, but Ramirez took second on a balk by Major McNeese and third on a past ball, before Sammy Ward hit a sacrifice fly ball to Rosales in right field, that allowed Ramirez to tag up and score from third to put Slaton in front, 1-0, with two outs.
Eli Perez hit a slow roller to Nick Caballero at first, who tagged the runner out in the base path to retire the side.
Ethan Garcia ripped a shot to center field that was dropped by Ramirez for a double. Brendon Bowman singled through the right side, as Sam Hill came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher. Ian Mendez singled to John Bernal at shortstop to load the bases, but JJ Soria struck out swinging for out number one.
Trevino hit an RBI-single over second base, allowing Garcia to score from third to tie the game, 1-1. McNeese drew an RBI-walk to Littlefield in front, 2-1, but Jaron Cabello struck out swinging for out number two and Caballero popped up to Ramirez in center field to end the inning.
Both teams went three up and three down in the third inning, but in the top of the fourth inning, Zane Funderburk singled to leftcenter field to lead things off, Ramirez laid down a bunt that was thrown to first for the out, Caballero then fired across the diamond to Trevino, who was covering third base, as he tagged out Funderburk, who was trying to take an extra base on the play for the double play.
Wright hit a swinging bunt to Soria at third, who didn’t have a play and had to eat it, giving the Tigers another runner. However, Ward grounded out to Soria at third to retire the side.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Mendez grounded out to Wright at third and Soria bopped up to Bernal behind second base for out number two, before Trevino drew a walk to give the Wildcats a base runner. A balk put Trevino on second base and McNeese hit an RBI-single up the middle, and he took second on the throw home from the outfield, as the Wildcats extended their lead to, 3-1.
Cabello, though, would strike out looking to end the inning.
McNeese and the Wildcat defense kept the Tigers off of the board in the top half of the fifth inning and in the bottom half of the side, Caballero singled to right field to lead things off, as Funderburk relieved Perez on the mound; Tavion Ivery also came on as the pinch runner. Ivery took second on a bad pick-off to first by Funderburk and Jonavan Weaver singled to right field, moving Ivery over to third to put runners on the corners for the Wildcats.
Ivery scored on a pat ball, as Weaver took second on the play, stretching their lead to, 4-1. Garcia hit a roller up the middle and beat the throw to first, putting runners on the corners for Littlefield with no outs. Bowman drew a walk to load the bases, as Hill came on as the courtesy runner and Mendez hit an RBI-single through the left side to push the lead to, 5-1.
Soria laid down a swinging bunt and reached base safely on a fielders choice by Funderburk, who tried to go home with the ball, but a bad flip to the plate allowed the run to score, extending the lead to, 6-1. Trevino hit a sacrifice grounder to Ward at first, who stepped on the bag for out number one, as the lead was pushed to, 7-1. McNeese and Cabello would strike out swinging to end the inning.
Chip Green relieved McNeese on the mound and he and the Wildcat defense were able to keep the Tigers off the board in the final two innings, as Littlefield took the contest, 7-1, over the Tigers.
McNeese pitched five innings, earning two strikeouts, while giving up one run. Green closed out the game, pitching two innings, giving up one walk, while earning one punch out.