The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team was plagued by errors on Tuesday in a, 14-2, loss to the New Home Leopards at Wildcat Field.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 4-7-1 overall on the season.
Brendon Bowman gave up a lead-off walk to open the first inning and Zach Blizel followed it up with a single through the left side, before Logan Addison was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The lead runner was picked off at third by Armando Ramon for out number one, but the runners advanced on a pitch to put runners on second and third for the Leopards with one out.
Ashton Lucio hit a sacrifice grounder to Isaiah Rodriguez at second, who got the out at first, as the run scored to put the Leopards in front, 1-0. Alex Vitolas hit an RBI-single to center field to stretch the lead to, 2-0, but Bowman got Brody Emert to strike out swinging to retire the side.
Jordan Trevino singled on an error to right-center field, but Major McNeese hit into a fielder’s choice to Reagan Fiedler at second base, who went to second for the force out. Jonavan Weaver singled to shallow center field on a ball that was dropped by the shortstop, and Nick Caballero hit an RBI-double under the glove of the right fielder to cut the lead to, 2-1.
Bowman, though, flew out to right center field on a diving catch; Weaver tagged up and scored from third, but Caballero did not tag up at second and was doubled up to end the inning, after the Wildcats tied the game, 2-2.
Ryan Bundy singled on an error by Trevino up the middle to open the second inning and Fiedler laid down a bunt that was fielded by Bowman, but he was able to beat out the throw to first to give the Leopards a pair of base runners. Jackson Raines struck out swinging for out number one, but Bowman beamed the next guy to load the bases for the Leopards. Blizel hit a sacrifice fly to
Blizel hit a sacrifice fly to McNeese in left field, as Bundy tagged up and scored from third to extend the lead to, 3-2. A bad throw to second by Trevino allowed the runners to advance to second and third on the play. Addison followed it up with a two - RBI triple to left-center field to extend the lead to, 5-2, before Lucio drew a walk to put runners on the corners for New Home. Bowman was relieved on the
Bowman was relieved on the mound by McNeese, as McNeese got Vitolas to hit into a fielder’s choice to Rodriguez at second base, who got the force out at second to retire the side.
Rodriguez drew a lead-off walk to open the bottom half of the second inning, but the Wildcats were unable to do anything with it, as Chip Green struck out swinging, Ethan Garcia popped up to right field and Jaron Cabello struck out swinging to end the inning.
In the top of the third inning, Emert popped up to Rodriguez at second base for out number one, but Bundy singled to left field, however, on the next play, Fiedler singled to shallow right field and the ball was picked up and thrown to second for the force out by Markus Rosales for out number two. Raines doubled to left-center field, before Fiedler scored on a past ball and the next man hit an RBI-double on the third-base line in left field to make the score, 7-2.
Blizel popped up to Trevino behind the mound to retire the side.
The Leopards would add five runs in the top of the fourth inning and two runs in the top of the fifth, as they went on to take down the Wildcats, 14-2.
Bowman started on the mound for the Wildcats going 1.2 innings, earning two strikeouts, while giving up four walks and five runs. McNeese pitched two innings in relief, giving up five runs, and Caballero pitched 1.1 innings giving up one walk and four runs, while earning three strikeouts. The Wildcats hosted Bushland
The Wildcats hosted Bushland on Friday to close out the pre-district schedule. Results were not available at press time. They will open district play on Tuesday with a road game at Denver City. First-pitch is scheduled for 7
First-pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.