The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity softball team dropped a heart-breaker in a seeding game to the Brownfield Lady Cubs on Monday at Lubbock High, 3-2, in 12 innings.
With the loss, the Lady Cats will enter the Class 3A Softball Play-offs as the three seed.
Mykenzie Price hit a chopper over Kenley Salas in the circle and beat the throw to first by Brianne Franco to give the Lady Cats their first base runner of the game. Price took second on a dropped pitch by the catcher and Cadence Sanchez hit a sacrifice grounder to third and was thrown out at first, as Price advanced to third on the play with one out.
Bryndle Ray had a short fly fall between second and first and was thrown out at first, as Price scored to put the Lady Cats in front, 1- 0. Natalia Sanchez blasted a solo homerun to left field to make the score, 20, and Golden followed it up with a double to the left-center field fence. She took third on a past ball, but Alex Hernandez struck out looking to retire the side.
In the bottom of the first, Cadence Sanchez made quick work of the Lady Cubs, as she got Millie Castillo to pop up to the first-base side for out number one. Jackie Castillo struck out swinging for out number two and Kenley Salas flew out to Price in shallow center field to end the inning.
The teams went scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning when Brailee Franco singled on a line-drive to shortstop that was dropped by Ray. Malorie Martinez lined out to Alex Hernandez at first base for out number one and Brianna Franco hit a fly ball to right-center field that was dropped, but the Lady Cats were able to get the force out at second for out number two.
Mandy Martinez hit a shot up the middle that was fielded by Cadence Sanchez in the circle, but the throw to first was dropped by Alex Hernandez at first base allowing Brianne Franco to score from first and putting Mandy Martinez on third, cutting the score to, 2-1. Mandy Martinez scored on a past ball to tie the game, 2-2, before Melody Salas hit a onehopper to Natalia Sanchez at second base to end the inning.
A defensive battle ensued until the top of the 10th when the Lady Cats threatened to take the lead. Hannah Lopez drew a leadoff walk, but Price lined out to center field for out number one. Cadence Sanchez drew a walk to put two runners on, and they advanced to second and third on a past ball, but Ray struck out swinging for out number two and Natalia Sanchez flew out to right field to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the tenth, Kenley Salas laid down a bunt that was fielded by Cadence Sanchez in the circle and thrown to first for the out. Brailee Franco grounded out to Cadence Sanchez in the circle for out number two, but the next hitter singled off of the glove of Cadence Sanchez in the circle, the ball was fielded by Ray at shortstop, but a throwing error to first gave the Lady Cubs a base runner. Heaven Mendez came on as the pinch runner.
Brianne Franco, though, chopped out to Cadence in the circle to end the inning.
Both teams were kept quiet in the 11th inning and in the top of the 12th, Alyssa Torres and Kaeleigh Logan drew back-toback walks, as Brinley Acevedo came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher. Price singled through the left side to load the bases with no outs, but Cadence Sanchez struck out swinging, Ray struck out looking and Natalia Sanchez struck out swinging to retire the side, as Brownfield was able to get out of trouble.
Jackie Castillo led off the bottom of the 12th for the Lady Cubs with a swinging bunt, but it was fielded by Cadence Sanchez and thrown to first for the out. Kenley Salas singled to shallow right field that got under the glove of Myli Hernandez in right field, putting the runner on second for Brownfield.
Brailee Franco singled to right-center field to put runners on the corners for the Lady Cubs and the next batter hit a sac fly to right field that allowed Kenley Salas to tag up and score from third, as the Lady Cubs walkedit off against Littlefield, 3-2, in the seeding game.
Cadence Sanchez threw a complete game, 11.2 innings for the Lady Cats, giving up three runs, while earning three strike outs.
The Lady Cats Bi-district series will be against the Alpine Lady Bucks in Sweetwater. Game one is set for 5 p.m. on Friday with game two to follow at 7 p.m. Game three if necessary will be on Saturday at 3 p.m.