The Littlefield Lady Cats’ varsity softball team took game one of their 2023 Class 3A Bi-district match-up with the Alpine Lady Bucks, 11- 3, on Friday in Sweetwater.
Hannah Juett started in the circle for Alpine, as she hit the lead-off batter, Mykenzie Price. Price took second on a pitch and third on a past ball, before Bryndle Ray drew a walk, however, Ray was called out on the look back rule for not immediately going back to the bag once the pitcher had the ball in the circle for out number one.
Cadence Sanchez flew out to center field for out number two, but Price was able to tag-up and score from third to put the Lady Cats in front, 1- 0. Natalia Sanchez followed it up with a double that landed at the base of the left-field fence and she took third on a past ball, before Taryn Golden drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Littlefield.
Alex Hernandez was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Arianna Cruz struck out swinging to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the first inning, Cadence Sanchez gave up a lead-off walk to Jaycee Portillo, and Portillo took second on a past ball, before Sierra Ruckman struck out swinging for out number one. Kody Hawkins grounded out to Ray at shortstop for out number two, as Portillo took third on the throw to first. But, Puala Vargas popped up to Ray at shortstop to end the inning.
Alyssa Torres struck out looking for out number one to begin the second inning, but Kaeleigh Logan drew a walk, bringing Cali Saldana on as the courtesy runner. Saldana took second and third on past balls, before Juett was relieved in the circle by Hawkins for Alpine. Price took second on a fake throw down that was cut off by the shortstop, as Saldana scored on the play and Price took third on the throw home, making the score, 2-0.
Price scored on a wild pitch to extend their lead to, 3-0, before Ray struck out looking for out number two and Cadence Sanchez grounded out to Portillo at shortstop to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the second inning, Alexis Rodriguez laid down a bunt, but it was fielded by Cadence Sanchez and thrown to first for out number one. Emily Sweat singled down the third-base line to give Alpine a base runner, and Nayeli Acosta singled to right field, but Myli Hernandez was able to get the force out at second for out number two. Mia Lewis lined out to Golden at third to end the inning.
The Lady Cats were kept quiet in the top of the third and in the bottom half of the side, the Lady Bucks struck back.
Sierra Valenzuela struck out swinging for out number one, but Portillo singled up the middle and Ruckman had a single fall between Natalia Sanchez and Alex Hernandez on the right side, before Hawkins unloaded the bases with an opposite- field homerun to right field, tying the game, 3-3.
Vargas singled up the middle to put a runner on for Alpine, but Rodriguez flew out to Price in center field and she was able to double up Vargas at first to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, Torres drew a lead-off walk and took second on a pitch, before Logan followed it up with an RBI-double down the right-field line, bringing Saldana on to run for the catcher with Littlefield back in front, 4-3. Price singled to shortstop on a drop by the first baseman, moving Saldana over to third.
Ray drew a walk to load the bases and Cadence Sanchez hit a grounder deep to Portillo at second base and was thrown out at first as Saldana scored to stretch the lead to, 5-3. Natalia Sanchez singled on an error by the shortstop, as Price scored to push their lead to, 6- 3. Ray scored on a past ball, but on the same play, Natalia Sanchez was thrown out trying to go first to third. Golden struck out looking to retire the side.
Cadence Sanchez got the Lady Bucks to go three-up-andthree- down, as Sweat popped up to Natalia Sanchez over second base and she got Acosta to strike out swinging and Lewis struck out looking to end the inning.
Both teams went scoreless until the top of the sixth inning, as Price singled on a drop by Valenzuela in center field and took second on a throw down to first by the catcher, before Ray struck out looking for out number one. Price took third on a past ball Cadence Sanchez hit a grounder to Portillo at second base and was thrown out at first, as Price scored to push the lead to, 8-3.
Natalia Sanchez drew a walk and took second on a past ball, before Golden grounded out to Acosta at third to retire the side.
The Lady Cat defense got Alpine to go three-up-and-threedown in the bottom of the sixth and in the top of the seventh, Alex Hernandez singled down the first-base line and Cruz laid down a bunt on the third-base line that was bobbled by Acosta putting two runners on for Littlefield.
Torres and Logan both struck out swinging, but Price ripped an RBI-double to center field, pushing the lead to, 9-3, and Ray followed it up with a two-RBI single to left field, but she was thrown out at second to retire the side with the Lady Cats in front, 11-3.
The Lady Cats got the Lady Bucks to go three-up-and-threedown in the bottom of the seventh to take game one of their Bi-district play-off series.
Cadence Sanchez pitched a complete game for the Lady Cats, throwing seven innings. She gave up one walk, four hits and three runs, while earning five strike outs.