The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team came out on Saturday for game two with the Mustangs and their backs against the wall, but they could not get anything going offensively, as they fell to Shallowater, 14--0, dropping the Regional Quarterfinal series, 0-2.
With the loss, the Wildcats finish the season with a mark of 15-12 overall.
In the top of the first inning, Maddox McDonald singled over Chip Green at third base and took second on a past ball, before Clayton Vincent drew a walk to put two runners on for the Mustangs. Gerrit Boschma knocked an RBI-single to center field, moving Vincent to third to put runners on the corners with the score, 1-0.
Major McNeese got Brayden Gurney to strike out looking for out number one, before Izayah Ward drew a walk to load the bases. The Wildcats would get out of the bases-loaded jam, as Rylen Ramos lined out to Markus Rosales in right field and Kale Moore popped up to Green in foul territory at third to retire the side.
The Wildcats struggled to find their groove offensively in the home-half of the first, as Rosales flew out to Rylen Blackburn in center field for out number one, Adam MacDonald chopped out to Zack Scott at second base for out number two and McNeese grounded out to Kaedyn Carter at first base to end the inning. The Wildcat defense stood tall in the top of the second inning, as they got the Mustangs to go down in order. Carter hit a one-hopper to Ian Mendez at shortstop for out number one, Blackburn popped up to MacDonald on the infield for out number two and McDonald flew out to Gabe Montalvo in center field to retire the side.
Brenden Bowman drew a lead-off walk for the Wildcats to begin the bottom of the second inning, bringing Ja’Den Williams on as the courtesy runner, but Mendez struck out swinging for out number one. Williams was picked off at second after getting caught in a rundown for out number two and Bradyn Redman flew out to Blackburn in center field to end the inning.
In the top of the third, McNeese got the lead-off man, Vincent to strike out swinging for out number one, but Boschma drew a walk and Gurney singled off the glove of Green at third base, bringing Blaine St. Clair on as the courtesy runner for the pitcher. Ward ripped an RBI-double to leftcenter field to make the score, 2-0, and Ramos hit a sacrifice fly to Rosales in right-field to bring in another run, making the score, 3-0, with two outs. Moore grounded out to Green at third to retire the side.
In the bottom of the third, Green led things off, but was struck out swinging for out number one. Gabriel Villanueva laid down a bunt that was fielded by Vincent and thrown to first for out number two and Isaiah Rodriguez grounded out to McDonald at shortstop to end the inning.
The Wildcats were able to keep the Mustangs quiet in the top of the fourth. Carter had a pop up fall in shallow right field between Rodriguez and MacDonald, but Blackburn laid a bunt down in front of the plate that was thrown to first, but not in time. However, MacDonald threw it across the diamond to Green, who slapped a tag on Carter, for out number one.
Blackburn took second on a past ball, before McDonald flew out to Montalvo in left-center field for out number two. Vincent, though, would be thrown out at first on a dropped third strike to retire the side.
The Wildcats came to the plate in the bottom half of the fourth, looking for their first base runner of the game. They continued to put the ball in play, but were unable to find a base runner, as Rosales chopped out to Scott at second base, MacDonald grounded out to McDonald at shortstop and McNeese flew out to Blackburn in leftcenter field to end the inning.
McNeese returned to the mound to start the fifth inning, but after giving up a double to Boschma on an error by Redman in left field to start the inning, Gurney laid down a bunt that was fielded by MacDonald, but nobody covered first, as Boschma went first to third on the play, leaving runners on the corners for Shallowater. Ward blasted a two-RBI double to left field that was dropped by Redman, who was retreating towards the fence, making the score, 5-0. Mendez relieved McNeese on the mound for the Wildcats, as he gave up a walk to Ramos, which brought Carson Key on as the courtesy runner for the catcher.
Moore hit a sacrifice fly ball to McNeese in center field for out number one, as Ryan Dugger tagged up and advanced to third. Key stole second and a pick-off to second by Bowman got under Green, allowing a run to score, pushing the Mustang lead to, 6-0. Blackburn drew a walk to load the bases and McDonald hit a sacrifice fly to McNeese in center field to bring in a run, stretching their lead to, 7-0. Vincent would fly out to McNeese in center field on a diving catch to retire the side.
The Wildcat’s struggles at the plate continued, as Bowman struck out swinging for out number one. Mendez hit a shot back at Gurney on the mound, who got the out at first for out number two and Redman hit a shot to the left side; the throw was off the mark, but Carter leaped off the bag and slapped a tag on Redman to end the inning.
The Mustangs would go on to add a run in the sixth and six runs in the top of the seventh to close out the Wildcats, 14-0, in the Class 3A Regional Quarterfinal series.
McNeese started on the mound for the Wildcats, pitching four innings. He gave up five hits, three walks and six runs, one earned, while earning three strikeouts. Mendez came on in relief, pitching 2.1 innings, giving up five walks, three hits and six runs, five earned. Montalvo pitched the final two outs of the game for Littlefield, giving up two hits and two runs, while earning one strikeout.