The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team claimed the District 3-3A Championship with a, 15-2, victory on the road over the Brownfield Cubs.
With the win, the Wildcats finish off the district schedule with a mark of 7-1 heading into the post season.
In the top of the first inning, Ethan Garcia drew a lead-off walk, before Blake Green was hit by a pitch and Jonavan Weaver was walked to load the bases. Isaiah Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly ball to center field to score Garcia to make the score, 1-0. Zarius Garcia tried a pick-off move to second, but it sailed into center field, as the runners advanced 90-feet.
Turner Heffington hit a sacrifice grounder to shortstop, who got the out at first, as Green scored and Weaver took third on a delayed steal, with the score, 2-0. Jeremiah Salazar drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Littlefield, but Caden Longoria hit into a fielder’s choice to third base, as they got the force out at second to retire the side.
Ethan Garcia got Ashton Ryan to go down swinging to start the bottom half of the inning, but Darion Alvarado singled on an error by Rodriguez at shortstop to give the Cubs a base runner. Zavier Garcia hit into a fielder’s choice to Green at third base, who got the force out at second for out number two.
Zavier Garcia took second on a past ball, before Bryson Pickett was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second for the Cubs. Ethan Garcia would recover, as he got Tucker Nelson to pop up to Salazar at second base to end the inning.
In the top of the second inning, Nick Caballero grounded out to second base, but Marcus Rosalas hit a chopper up the middle to give Littlefield a base runner. Ethan Garcia struck out swinging for out number two, but Green picked him up with an RBI-double to left-center field to make the score, 3-0. Weaver would strike out swinging to retire the side.
The Cubs broke through in the bottom half of the side, as Johnny Romero led things off with a single to left field and Mireles singled up the middle to put two runners on for Brownfield. Zarius Garcia flew out to Longoria in shallow center field and Austin Sisson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out.
Ryan struck out swinging for out number two, but Romero scored on a past ball to make the score, 3- 1. Mireles stole home to make it a one-run game, 3-2, but Alvarado struck out looking to end the inning.
Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop to begin the third inning, but Heffington and Salazar drew back-to-back walks, as Zarius Garcia was relieved on the mound by Brandon Anthony. The runners advanced on a pitch, as Longoria struck out looking for out number two, Caballero hit a two-RBI single that was dropped by the shortstop in shallow left field, stretching their lead to, 5-2.
Rosales was struck out swinging to retire the side.
Ethan Garcia faced four batters in the bottom half of the side, as the Littlefield defense kept the Cubs offense quiet, heading into the fourth inning.
Ethan Garcia drew a lead-off walk and Green singled through the left side as the Wildcats were again threatening to extend their lead in the fourth inning. Weaver hit a two-RBI double up the middle that got by the center field to make the score, 7-2.
Weaver took third on a bad-pick off by Anthony, before Rodriguez struck out looking for out number one. Heffington hit a slow roller to Nelson at first, who tagged Heffington out, as Weaver scored from third to make the score, 8-2. Salazar grounded out to third base to retire the side.
Ethan Garcia made quick work of the Cubs in the bottom of the fourth inning, as he got them to go three-up-and-three-down to end the inning.
Malachi Garcia relieved Anthony on the mound for Brownfield, giving up back-to-back walks to Longoria and Caballero, before Rosales struck out looking for out number one. Ethan Garcia drew a walk to load the bases and Triston Rivero tried a throw down to third base, but it rolled into left field allowing Longoria scored and the runners advanced to second and third, making the score, 9-2.
Green was hit by a pitch to load the bases again for Littlefield Weaver hit a sacrifice fly to center field allowing Caballero to tag-up and score from third, pushing their lead to, 10-2, with two outs. Rodriguez hit into a fielder’s choice to third, as the runner was tagged out on his way to third to retire the side.
Ethan Garcia earned back-to-back strike outs to begin the bottom of the fifth inning and got Zavier Garcia to fly out to Longoria in center field to end the inning.
KJ Carroll relieved Malachi Garcia on the mound to begin the top of the sixth inning for Brownfield Heffington singled to shallow center field, but Salazar hit into a fielder’s choice to shortstop, as the Cubs got the out at second for the first out of the inning. Salazar took second on a pitch, before Longoria was walked to put two runners on for the Wildcats.
Caballero hit an RBI single to left field to score Salazar from second, making the score, 11-2. Tavion Ivery struck out looking for out number two, but Ethan Garcia reached base on an infield single, but Green flew out to deep left field to retire the side.
Ethan Garcia kept the Cubs quiet in the bottom of the sixth, before the Wildcats added four runs in the top of the seventh to close out the contest, 15-2.
Garcia pitched six innings for the Wildcats, earning seven strikeouts, while giving up just three walks and two runs. Green came on to close the game in the seventh inning.
The Wildcats will play a doubleheader against Kermit at Seminole on Friday in the Class 3A Bi-district round of the play-offs. Game one is scheduled for 4 p.m. and game two is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Game three if necessary will be on Saturday.