The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team rallied back on Friday night to defeat the Snyder Tigers, 5-1, in non-district play at Wildcat Field in Littlefield.
In the top of the first inning, Brenden Bowman got the lead-off man, Brandt House to pop up to Ian Mendez at shortstop for out number one. Easton Stewart flew out to Major McNeese on a diving catch in shallow center field for out number two. Dyllan Angeley drew a walk, but Bowman got Ty Davis to strike out swinging on a check swing to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the inning, McNeese popped up to Stewart at shortstop for out number one, before Mendez drew a walk to give the Wildcats a base runner. Mendez took second on a pitch, before Isaiah Rodriguez hit into a fielder’s choice to House on the mound, who went to third with the throw, but Mendez made it back to second safely.
Bowman struck out looking for out number two and Chip Green hit a shot off of the pitcher’s foot, that went to Stewart at shortstop, who got the out at first to end the inning.
The Tigers made some noise to start the second inning, as Tyler Clark singled to center field and Kyler Groves and the next batter drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for Snyder. Littlefield was able to recover, as Caleb Williams laid down a bunt that was fielded by Bowman, who got the out at home on the fielder’s choice for out number one.
Hayden Foster struck out swinging for out number two and House grounded out to Rodriguez at second base to retire the side.
The Wildcats went three-up-andthree- down in the bottom of the second inning and in the top of the third inning the Tigers broke through.
Stewart grounded out up the middle to Rodriguez for out number one. Angeley drew a walk and Davis singled on a diving stop by Mendez at shortstop, putting runners on the corners for Snyder. Chon Vasquez came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher.
Clark laid a bunt down the firstbase line and was tagged out in the baseline by Adam MacDonald, as the game’s first run crossed the plate to make the score, 1-0. Groves popped up to Green at third to retire the side.
Both teams were kept quiet until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Wildcats came back to the plate. Rodriguez struck out swinging for out number one, but Bowman and Green drew back-toback walks to put two runners on for the Wildcats. Markus Rosales struck out swinging for out number two, but Elijah Salazar picked him up with an RBI-double to leftcenter field to tie the game, 1-1. Armando Ramon, though, would pop up to second base to end the inning.
McNeese relieved Bowman on the mound in the top of the fifth inning, as he got the Tigers to go three-up-and-three-down to retire the side. The game remained deadlocked until the bottom of the sixth inning. Angeley relieved House on the mound for Snyder, as Rodriguez drew a lead-off walk and Bowman singled through the right side, bringing Sam Hill on as the courtesy runner for the catcher.
Green drew a walk to load the bases, and Rosales walked in a run to put Littlefield in front, 2-1. Salazar was struck out swinging for out number one, but Gabe Montalvo drew an RBI-walk to put the Wildcats up, 3-1, as Angeley was relieved on the mound by Stewart. Green scored on a past ball, as the runners advanced to second and third, with the score, 4-1.
MacDonald popped up to Groves at first base for out number two and McNeese hit an RBI-chopper to shortstop, beating the throw to first, but Montalvo was thrown out at the plate trying to score, with the score pushed to, 5-1, heading into the top of the seventh.
McNeese and the Wildcat defense shut down the Tigers in the top of the seventh, as they got Snyder to go three-up-and-three down to end the game, as Littlefield took the contest, 5-1.
Bowman started on the mound for the Wildcats pitching four innings, giving up four walks and one run, while earning four punch outs. McNeese closed out the final three innings for the Wildcats, earning two strike outs.
The Wildcats opened district play on Tuesday with a home game against Brownfield. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Saturday on the road against Denver City.
First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.