The 15u Littlefield Wildcats Babe Ruth All-Star Team walked it off on Thursday afternoon with a, 9-8, victory over Seminole to advance to the Babe Ruth State Championship game.
With the win, the Wildcats improved to 2-0 in tournament play on the week.
In the top of the first inning, Seminole’s lead-off batter, Evan Garza, grounded out to Xavier Champion for out number one, but Woody Damron was hit by a pitch to give the Indians a base runner. Damron took second on a wild pitch, before Mendez got Bryan Hernandez to strike out swinging for out number two. Damron would be stranded on second base, as Josiah Neufeld flew out to Markus Rosales in center field to retire the side.
In the home half of the first inning, Major McNeese grounded out to Austin Vazcayno at second base for out number one, but Isaiah Rodriguez drew a walk to give the Wildcats a runner. Rodriguez took second on the pitcher, but Mendez hit a sac grounder to Damron on the mound, who got the out at first, as Rodriguez advanced to third on the play. He would be left of third, as Brady Jones struck out swinging to end the inning.
Mendez made quick work of the Indians in the top of the second inning, as he got Ian Neufeld to strike out swinging and Hiram Gaytan to strike out looking, before Derik Madrid grounded out to Mendez on the mound to retire the side.
The Wildcats dug themselves a hole in the bottom half of the second inning with two quick outs, as Brendon Bowman and Bradyn Redman both struck out swinging. Rosales singled past Vazcayno at second base and took second on a pitch, before Champion singled over shortstop and took second on the throw in from the outfield to put runners on second and third with two outs for Littlefield.
Rosales stole home on a wild pitch to put the Wildcats up, 1-0, but Armando Ramon grounded out to Vazcayno at second to end the inning.
Mendez jumped on the Indians quick again in the top of the third inning, as he got Vazcayno to strike out swinging and Cadon Tice to strike out looking for out number two. Garza singled on a dropped fly ball by Redman in right field and Damron singled past Jones at first, before Hernandez was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Indians with two outs.
Josiah Neufeld hit an RBIgrounder off of the glove of Mendez on the mound to tie the game, 1-1, and Ian Neufeld hit a two-RBI pop up that was misplayed by Champion at second base to give Seminole a, 3-1, lead. Mendez got Gayton to strike out swinging to end the inning and get the Wildcats out of trouble.
Gabriel Villanueva hit an infield single to Josiah Neufeld at third to give Littlefield a runner. He took second on a past ball, before McNeese flew out to right field for out number one. Rodriguez had a fly ball fall in shallow right field for an RBI-triple to make it a onerun game, 3-2.
Mendez hit a shot to shortstop, that turned into an RBI-single to tie the game, 3-3. Jones struck out swinging for out number two, after Mendez took second on a pitch. But Bowman struck out swinging for out number three to end the inning.
Rosales relieved Mendez on the mound to begin the fourth inning, as he got Madrid to ground out to Mendez at second base, Vazcayno to ground out to Rodriguez at shortstop and Tice to ground out to Bowman at third base to retire the side.
The Wildcats had nothing going in the bottom of the fourth inning, as they went down in order leaving the game tied, 3-3, heading into the fifth inning.
In the top of the fifth, Garza legged out an infield single to Bowman at third to give the Indians a runner. Damron lined out to Redman in right field for out number one, but Hernandez singled through the left side and Josiah Neufeld drew a walk to load the bases.
Garza scored on a past ball to regain the lead for Seminole, 4-3, before Ian Neufeld struck out swinging for out number two. Gayton singled up the middle to drive in a run for the Indians, extending their lead to, 5-3. Madrid followed it up with a two-RBI triple to left-center field on a missed diving attempt by McNeese, pushing the lead to, 7-3.
Rosales got Vazcayno to pop up to Rodriguez at shortstop to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the fifth inning, trailing by four runs, Ramon lined out to Ian Neufeld at first for out number one. Villanueva was hit by a pitch and McNeese singled to center field to put two runners on for Littlefield. Rodriguez singled to center field to load the bases and Mendez hit an RBI-single through the left side, trimming the lead to, 7-4. Jones struck out looking for out number two, but Bowman hit a pop up in front of the plate that was dropped by the pitcher, Damron, for an RBI-single, cutting the lead to, 7-5. Redman, though, would strike out swinging to end the rally.
Champion relieved Rosales on the mound to begin the sixth inning, as he got the Indians to go down in order to retire the side.
Rosales singled up the middle to start the home-half of the sixth inning and Champion was hit by a pitch to put two runners on for Littlefield. Rosales took third on a bad pick-off to second, and Ramon followed it up with a two-RBI double on the throw home from the outfield, tying the game, 7-7.
Vazcayno relieved Damron on the mound, as Ramon took third on a past ball, before Villanueva walked and Ramon scored on a past ball, giving the Wildcats the lead, 8-7. McNeese struck out swinging for out number one and Rodriguez struck out looking for out number two. Mendez was intentionally walked, as Adam Macdonald grounded out to Josiah Neufeld at third to end the inning.
Hernandez hit a grounder to Bowman at third, who made a high throw to first to give Seminole a base runner. Josiah Neufeld hit a shot up the middle on a hit-and-run, Mendez made a sliding stop at second and got the out at first for out number one. Ian Neufeld hit a grounder to Bowman at third, who got the out at first, as Hernandez advanced to third with two outs.
Gayton hit an RBI-single to right field to tie the game, 8-8, but Madrid was struck out swinging to retire the side.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Bowman singled on a dropped fly ball in shallow rightcenter field and Redman drew a walk, as Garza relieved Vazcayno on the mound for Seminole. Rosales drew a walk to load the bases and Champion walked in the winning run, as the Wildcats came away with the, 9-8, walk-off victory.
Mendez pitched three innings for the Wildcats, giving up three runs and two walks, while earning six strikeouts. Rosales came on in relief duty, pitching two innings, giving up four runs and one walk, while earning one strikeout. Champion closed the game for the Wildcats, pitching two innings, giving up one run, while earning two strikeouts.