The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team topped the Slaton Tigers at home on Thursday afternoon, 15- 5, in their tournament- opener at Wildcat Field.
CJ Anzley drew a lead- off walk for the Tigers in the top of the first inning, but John Bernal struck out looking for out number one. Anzley took third on a past ball, before Ryland Kieth hit a chopper to Adam McDonald at first base, who tagged the runner out, as Anzley scored to put the Tigers in front, 1- 0. Zane Funderburk grounded out to Isaiah Rodriguez at shortstop to retire the side.
Major McNeese hit a chopper down the first- base line, reaching base on an error by the pitcher Xavier Lopez. Mendez hit an RBI- double down the third- base line to tie the game, 1- 1, and Rodriguez followed it up with a double to left field on an error by Jacob Lopez, putting the Wildcats in front, 2-1. Rodriguez took third on a wild pitch, but Brendon Bowman struck out looking for out number one.
Gabe Montalvo struck out looking for out number two, but Chip Green was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners for Littlefield. Elijah Salazar was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Green scored on a past ball, as the runners moved up, making the score, 4- 1. McNeese, though, grounded out to Riley Martinez at second base to end the inning.
Mendez got Chris Garcia to strike out swinging and he was thrown out at first by Bowman on a dropped third strike for out number one. Xavier Lopez flew out to McNeese in rightcenter field for out number two, but Martinez single up the middle to give the Tigers a base runner. Mendez, though, would bounce back, as he got Jacob Lopez to strike out swinging; he was thrown out at first on a dropped third strike to retire the side.
Mendez reached base on a throwing error by Bernal at third base to begin the bottom half of the second inning, but Rodriguez flew out to Funderburk in right field, Bowman struck out looking for out number two and Montalvo grounded out up the middle to end the inning.
Trak Crow drew a lead-off walk to open the third inning, but Anzley hit into a fielder’s choice at second base, as Salazar got the force out at second base for out number one. Crow stole second on a pitch but came off the bag and was tagged out by Rodriguez for out number two and Bernal chopped out to Green at third to retire the side.
Green hit a triple through the right side on an error by Funderburk in right field to open the bottom of the third inning and Jimenez was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners for the Wildcats. Jimenez took second on a ball in the dirt, before Salazar hit a chopper on the first- base line, that was fielded by the pitcher, Xavier Lopez, who got the out at first, but Green scored to push their lead to, 7- 1.
Jimenez stole third on a pitch and Markus Rosales drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Littlefield. Bernal relieved Xavier Lopez on the mound for Slaton. Bernal balked, scoring Jimenez and moving Rosales to second base, stretching the lead to, 81. McNeese flew out to Funderburk in right field for out number two and Rodriguez popped up to Xavier Lopez at third base to end the inning.
Mendez kept the Tigers quiet in the top of the fourth inning, and in the bottom half of the side, Rodriguez led things off with a slow chopper to third, beating the throw to first. Bowman singled through the left side, as Xavier Champion came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher. Montalvo laid down a sacrifice bunt on the first- base line to move the runners to second and third and Green ripped a two-RBI double into the rightcenter field gap to stretch their lead to, 10-1.
Jimenez was hit by a pitch and Green stole third on a past ball, before Salazar hit into a fielder’s choice to Martinez at second base, who got the out at second base, as Green scored to make the score, 111. Rosales drew a walk and a balk moved the runners up 90ft, before McNeese hit a two-RBI single up the middle, taking second on the throw home by Anzley, as Littlefield pushed their lead to, 13- 1.
McNeese took third on the pitcher and Mendez hit an RBIsingle through the left side to push the lead to, 14- 1. Rodriguez had a fly ball fall in left field on the third- base line for an RBI- double, stretching the lead to, 15- 1, but Bowman grounded out to third to end the inning.
Rodriguez relieved Mendez on the mound and the Tigers scored four runs, but the game ended as Martinez flew out to McNeese in center field to wrap things up.
Mendez pitched four innings for the Wildcats giving up one run and three walks, while earning four punch outs. Rodriguez pitched the fifth inning, giving up four runs and one walk, while earning one strikeout.