The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity softball team opened district play on Tuesday at home with a win over rival Muleshoe, 10-0.
With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 1-0 in district play.
The Littlefield defense made quick work of the Lady Mules in the top of the first inning, as Alexa Estrada hit a one-hopper to Natalia Sanchez at second base for out number one and Addilene Blanco grounded out to Taryn Golden at third base for out number two. Heaven McMullen hit a shot to the center field fence, but was thrown out at second on the relay from Mykenzie Price to Natalia Sanchez to Bryndle Ray at second base for the tag to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the inning, Price singled through the left side to get the Lady Cats going offensively, but on the next play, she was thrown out by the catcher trying to steal second for out number one. Cadence Sanchez grounded out to Bianca Cereceres at third for out number two, but Ray singled through the left side and after getting in a rundown between first and second, was given second base on an obstruction call on Muleshoe.
Natalia Sanchez unloaded the bases with a two-run homerun to right-center field to put the Lady Cats up, 2-0, but Golden grounded out to first to end the inning.
In the top of the second, Cereceres flew out to Alex Hernandez in left field for the first out of the inning, and Elena Cisneros grounded out to Cadence Sanchez in the circle for out number two. Payton Critchley singled over first base to give Muleshoe a base runner, but she would be left stranded, as Cadence Sanchez got Aaliyah Sanchez to strike out swinging to retire the side.
Alex Hernandez singled over third base to begin the bottom half of the inning, taking second on a bad throw in from the outfield. Myli Hernandez singled on a throwing error by the McMullen at shortstop, taking second on the play, as Alex Hernandez scored to make the score, 3-0. Lyric Rios lined out to center field and Myli Hernandez was doubled up at second base to give them two outs, but Kaeleigh Logan singled up the middle to give the Lady Cats a new base runner. Alyssa Torres came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher.
Price hit a grounder to McMullen at shortstop and was safe at first on a dropped ball by the first baseman, allowing Torres to take third on the play. Cadence Sanchez followed it up with a two-RBI single that fell inside the left-field line, extending their lead to, 5-0, before Ray popped up to McMullen at shortstop to end the inning.
Muleshoe’s offensive struggles continue into the third, as Cadence Sanchez got the lead- off batter, Gimena Ramirez to strike out looking for out number one. Kylie Hernandez and Estrada both grounded out to Cadence Sanchez in the circle to retire the side.
Natalia Sanchez opened the bottom half of the side with a double to center field on an error by Critchley, as she fell down before making the catch. Golden struck out swinging for out number one, but Natalia Sanchez took third on a ball down and away from the catcher, before Alex Hernandez struck out swinging for out number two.
Myli Hernandez hit a grounder to shortstop and reached base on a throwing error by McMullen to first, allowing Natalia Sanchez to score, making the score, 6-0, before Rios grounded out to first to end the inning.
The Lady Cat defense kept the Lady Mules quiet again in the top of the fourth inning, as Blanco flew out to Price in shallow center field and McMullen lined out to Natalia Sanchez at second base for out number two. Cereceres singled through the left side and Rubi Saucedo Rios singled to left field, but Cadence Sanchez got Critchley to strike out swinging to retire the side.
Logan doubled off of the left field fence to begin the bottom half of the fourth inning, as Torres came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher and Price singled on a short fly ball in front of the pitcher that hit the ground and spun away from the circle, moving Torres over to third on the play. Cadence Sanchez popped up to Cereceres at third for out number one, leaving runners on second and third.
Ray would pop up to McMullen at shortstop for out number two and Natalia Sanchez grounded out to McMullen at shortstop to end the inning, as Littlefield stranded two runners on base.
In the top of the fifth, Cadence Sanchez got Sanchez to strike out swinging to kick things off, but Ramirez doubled to right field to give Muleshoe a base runner. Littlefield would recover, as Kylie Hernandez lined out to Natalia Sanchez at second base and Estrada grounded out to Rios at first to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the side, Golden singled on a throwing error to first by Kylie Hernandez at shortstop to lead things off for the Lady Cats. Alex Hernandez singled on a fielder’s choice to Blanco at third base, as she went to second for the force out. Myli Hernandez ripped an RBI-triple into the right-field corner to extend their lead to, 70.
Myli Hernandez scored on a bad throw down to third by the catcher, before Rios struck out looking for out number two, with the lead stretched to, 8-0. Logan singled to left-center field, before Price grounded out to Blanco at third to end the inning.
Littlefield kept the Lady Mules off the board in the top of the sixth, and in the bottom half of the inning, Cadence doubled down the left-field line and Ray drew a walk to put two runners on for the Lady cats. Natalia Sanchez struck out swinging for out number one, but Golden was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Alex Hernandez ripped a two-RBI fielder’s choice to Blanco at third, as Blanco went home for the force, but the throw to first got by McMullen, allowing two runs to score, as the Lady Cats run-ruled the Lady Mules, 10-0.
Cadence Sanchez pitched a complete game, throwing six innings for the Lady Cats, earning four strike outs.
The Lady Cats hosted Brownfield on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue district play on Saturday with a road game against Denver City.
First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.