The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team won a non-district match-up over the Nazareth Swifts on Friday, 19-1, at Wildcat Field.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 12-8 overall on the year.
Xavier Champion and the Wildcat defense kept the Swifts quiet in the top of the first inning, as Champion got the lead-off man Lincoln Pohlmeier to ground out to Ian Mendez at shortstop for out number one. Jack Welps also grounded out to Mendez at shortstop, but Breck Proctor doubled down the right-field line. However, Champion would bounce back on the mound, as he got Will Young to ground out to Chip Green at third to reitre the side.
In the home-half of the first, Isaiah Rodriguez drew a lead-off walk and took second on a past ball, before Adam MacDonald popped up to Pohlmeier in front of the mound for out number one. Major McNeese laid down a bunt and reached base safely putting runners on the corners for Littlefield.
McNeese took second on a pitch, before Brenden Bowman would strike out swinging for out number two.
Mendez knocked a two-RBI single up the middle to put the Wildcats in front, 2-0, and Mendez took second on a piast ball, before Pohlmeier was relieved by Young on the mound.
Bradyn Redman drew a walk and Green had an RBI-double fall on the right-field line to stretch the lead to, 30. Champion followed it up with a single off of the glove of Young on the mound, driving in another run to make the score, 4-0. Markus Rosales drew a walk to load the bases and Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to bring in a run, pushing their lead to, 5-0. MacDonald, though, would hit into a fielder’s choice to Young in front of the plate, who touched home plate for the force out to end the inning.
In the top of the second inning, Champion got Zane Shulte, Tripp Ethridge and Dayne Shulte all to go down looking to retire the side.
In the bottom of the second inning, McNeese drew a lead-off walk and took second on a pitch, before Bowman singled to right-center field; McNeese scored on a throwing error in from the outfield to make the score, 6-0, as Ja’Den Williams came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher.
Williams took second on a pitch, before Mendez ripped an RBI-double to the left-field fence, extending their lead to, 7-0. Redman struck out swinging, but Green was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners for Littlefield. Green took second on a pitch, before Champion popped up to Young on the mound for out number two.
Mendez scored on a past ball and Green scored on a bad throw to the plate, stretching their lead to, 9-0, before Rosales drew a walk to put another runner on for the Wildcats. Rodriguez singled to left field and MacDonald was hit by a pitch to load the bases. McNeese drew an RBIwalk to stretch the lead to, 10-0, before Cameron Pohlmeier relieved Young on the mound for the Swifts.
Bowman singled on an error by Zane Shulte at second base to bring in a run and Mendez was hit by a pitch to bring in another run, making the score, 12-0. Redman would strike out swinging to end the inning.
Rosales relieved Champion on the mound for the Wildcats, as he got Cameron Pohlmeier to ground out to Champion at second base for out number one. Reid Backus struck out looking for out number two, but Lincoln Pohlmeier drew a walk to give the Swifts a base runner. Rosales would get Welps to pop up to MacDonald on the infield to retire the side.
Green led off the bottom of the third with a triple to right-center field and Evan Jasso followed it up with an RBIsingle to center field to stretch the lead to, 13-0. Rosales kept it going with an RBI-triple to the center-field fence, pushing their lead to, 14-0. Rodriguez singled to Proctor at shortstop to put runners on the corners for Littlefield, but Williams struck out looking for out number one.
McNeese drove in a run with a single to right field to make the score, 15-0, but Bowman hit into a fielder’s choice to Lincoln Pohlmeier at second base, who got the out at second leaving runners on the corners witht two outs. Mendez drew a walk to load the bases and Gabriel Villanueva singled on an error by Backus at first base to bring in a run, stretching the lead to, 16-0.
Green dropped a two-RbI double on the right-field line to make the score, 18-0, and Jasso was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Littlefield. Villanueva scored on a past ball, as Green advanced to third with the score, 19-0. Jakob Kirkland would line out to center field to end the inning.
Nazareth would score a run in the top of the fifth, as Littlefield went on to take the run-rule victory, 19-1.
Champion started on the mound for the Wildcats, pitching two innings, giving up one hit, while earning three strike outs. Rosales came on in relief duty and pitched one inning, giving up one walk, while earning one strike out. Bowman threw one inning, earning two strike outs, while Villanueva closed out the game, giving up one hit, two walks and one run.
The Wildcats were at Lamesa on Tuesday for their second meeting with the Golden Tornadoes. Results were not available at press time. They will close out the regular season on Friday with a home game against Denver City.
First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.