The Littlefield Wildcats 15u Babe Ruth All-Star Team run ruled the Andrews Mustangs on Saturday, 13-3, to claim the 15u Babe Ruth State Championship.
With the win the Wildcats finish the State Tournament undefeated, 3-0.
Charlie Lightfoot beat out a grounded to Xavier Champion at second base to give the Mustangs a runner to begin the contest and he took second and third on pitches, before Juan Hernandez hit an RBI-single to shortstop on a throwing error to first by Ian Mendez, making the score, 1-0.
Juan Hernandez took second on a pitch, before Cameron Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly ball to Bradyn Redman in right field, moving Juan Hernandez to third with one out. Chip Green got Jose Gomez to strike out swinging for out number two, but Juan Hernandez stole home on a lob back to the pitcher by Bowman, stretching the lead to, 2-0.
Nehemia Gomez singled to rightcenter field, but he was picked off at second by Bowman, Mendez was there for the tag to retire the side.
Major McNeese drew a lead-off walk for the Wildcats and took second on a pitch, before Isaiah Rodriguez hit an RBI-single up the middle to cut the lead to, 2-1. Mendez singled through the left side, as Juan Hernandez was relieved on the mound by Jose Gomez. A balk moved Rodriguez and Mendez up 90-feet, but Brady Jones struck out looking for out number one. Rodriguez scored on a past ball to tie the game, 2-2, as Mendez advanced to third on the play, but Green struck and Markus Rosales both struck out looking to end the inning.
Justice Rodriguez hit a slow roller to Rodriguez at third, who charged it and threw to first for the out to begin the second inning. Nate Winfrey flew out to Rosales in left field for out number two, but Carter Lee singled through the left side to give Andrews a runner. However, he would be left on base, as Corbin Cates struck out swinging to retire the side.
Champion struck out swinging to begin the home-half of the second inning, but Redman was hit by a pitch to give the Wildcats a runner. Gabriel Villanueva struck out swinging for out number two, but McNeese followed it up with an RBI-triple to right-center field to extend their lead to, 4-2. Rodriguez hit a liner to left field that was missed on a diving attempt to score McNeese, but Rodriguez was thrown out at the plate on a perfect relay throw from Lightfoot to end the inning, with the Wildcats in front, 5-2.
The Mustangs wasted no time getting back into the contest, as Lightfoot hit a triple over Redman in right field to begin the third inning. Juan Hernandez followed it up with an RBI-single up the middle to trim the lead to, 5-3. Juan Hernandez broke for second on a pitch, and a throw down to second by Bowman rolled into center field, but McNeese was there for the backup and canned Hernandez at third for out number one.
Cameron Hernandez drew a walk and Jose Gomez singled through the left side, as Mendez relieved Green on the mound for the Wildcats.
Nehemia Gomez hit into a fielder’s choice to Rodriguez at shortstop, who flipped it to Green on second, but he made a high throw to first trying to role the double play, allowing Cameron Hernandez to take third on the play. Littlefield would work out of it, as Nehemia Gomez was canned at second by Bowman for out number three; Rodriguez was there for the tag.
Mendez led off the bottom of the third inning with a single to right-center field, but Jones struck out looking, Green struck out swinging and Bowman grounded out to Lightfoot at shortstop to end the inning.
Mendez gave up a lead-off walk to Justice Rodriguez to begin the fourth inning, but Winfrey hit a shot to Rodriguez at shortstop, who took it himself to second, before firing to first for the double play. Lee struck out swinging to retire the side for Andrews.
Rosales got things started in the bottom of the fourth inning with a lead-off double to left-center field, but Champion and Redman, both struck out swinging for two outs. Villanueva hit an RBI-double on the third-base line in left field to extend their lead to, 6-3, and McNeese followed it up with an RBI-single to center field to push their lead to, 7-3.
McNeese took second on a pitch, before Rodriguez doubled on a slow roller to Lightfoot at shortstop, who made a bad throw to first, allowing McNeese to score, making the score, 8-3. Rodriguez took third on a wild pitch, before Mendez drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Littlefield. But, Adam Macdonald struck out looking to end the inning.
The Wildcats kept the Mustangs quiet in the top of the fifth inning, and in the bottom half of the side, Green laid a bunt down the third-base line and was safe at first to give the Wildcats a base runner. Bowman hit an RBI-double past shortstop to extend their lead to, 9-3, as Lee relieved Gomez on the mound for Andrews.
Bowman took third on a past ball, and Rosales hit a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Bowman to tag-up and score from third, making the score, 10-3. Armando Ramon drew a walk and Redman laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Ramon to second with two outs. Villanueva hit an RBI-single to left field to make the score, 11-3, and he took second on a past ball, before McNeese followed it up with an RBI-double on the third-base line in left field to extend their lead to, 12-3. Rodriguez would ground out to Jose Gomez at third, though, to end the inning.
Bowman retired the Mustangs in order in the top of the sixth, and in the bottom half of the side, Mendez hit a chopper over the pitcher that was misplayed by a charging Lightfoot at shortstop to put the winning run for Littlefield on first. Macdonald laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Mendez into scoring position and Mendez stole third on a bad pick-off to second by Lee. Green poked a walkoff RBI-single over first to score Mendez, as the Wildcats run-ruled the Mustangs, 13-3, to win the Babe Ruth State Championship.
Green pitched 2.1 innings for the Wildcats, giving up three runs and one walk, while earning two strike outs. Mendez pitched two innings for the Wildcats, giving up two walks, while earning one strikeout and Bowman closed out the game, pitching 1.2 innings, earning two strikeouts.
The Wildcats will be competing at Regionals in Alabama next.