The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team shutout the Friona Chieftains in five innings on Tuesday evening, 18-0, at Wildcat Field.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 17-7 overall, 8-3 in district play.
In the top of the first inning, Major McNeese got the lead-off man, Jameson Daniels to fly out to Bradyn Redman in right-center field for out number one. He got Aaron Rosales to ground out to Dawson Adkins at second base for out number two and he got Gabriel Ramos to strike out swinging to retire the side.
McNeese got the Wildcats going in the home-half of the first, ripping a stand-up triple into the right-center field gap. He would steal home on a passed ball to put the Wildcats in front, 1-0, before Adam MacDonald singled up the middle to give Littlefield another base runner. MacDonald would take second on a pitch and third on a ball in the dirt, before Chip Green hit a sacrifice fly ball to leftcenter field, that allowed MacDonald to tag-up and score from third to make the score, 2-0.
Jakob Kirkland chopped out to Daniels on the mound for out number two and Redman lined out to Rosales in center field to end the inning.
McNeese made quick work of the Chieftains in the top of the second inning, as he got Owen McGaughy, Aiden Tafoya and Mason Ramos all to go down swinging to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the inning, Adkins singled to left field, before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ian Mendez, who was thrown out at first for out number one. Jayden Kirkland ripped an RBI-double to the left-field fence to push their lead to, 3- 0, as Blayton Soliz came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher.
Soliz took third on a passed ball, before Gabriel Villanueva drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Littlefield. McNeese hit a sacrifice fly ball to right field, that allowed Soliz to tag-up and score from third, making the score, 4-0, with two outs. MacDonald would ground out to shortstop to end the inning.
The Wildcat defense went back to work in the top of the third inning, as McNeese got JD Villegas to hit a short pop up to him on the mound for out number one. Marcelo Leon and Rafael Rocha both struck out swinging to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the third, Green drew a lead-off walk and took second on a ball in the dirt and third on a pitch, before Jakob Kirkland drew a walk to put runners on the corners for the Wildcats. Green scored on a passed ball, as Jakob Kirkland went firstto- third on the play, making the score, 5-0.
Redman drove in Jakob Kirkland with an RBI-single to right field, stretching the lead to, 6-0, and Adkins laid down a bunt on the first-base line that was bobbled by McGaughy, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Mendez laid down a bunt between third and shortstop and beat the throw to first and Jayden Kirkland followed it up with an RBI-bunt to first that was bobbled by Rafael Rocha, making the score, 7-0.
Villanueva hit an RBI-single to Ramos at shortstop, beating the throw to first, making the score, 80. McNeese lined out to Mason Ramos at shortstop for out number one, but MacDonald singled on an error by Villegas at third to bring in another run, pushing their lead to, 9-0. Green hit a sacrifice fly to right field that was deep enough to score two runs, extending the lead to, 11-0.
MacDonald took second on a passed ball, before Jakob Kirkland drove an RBI-single up the middle to stretch the lead to, 12- 0. Redman would ground out to Ramos at shortstop to end the inning.
Villanueva relieved McNeese on the mound to begin the fourth inning, as he got Daniels to pop up to Mendez behind second base for out number one. He got Rosales to ground out to Green at third and he got Gabriel Ramos to hit a short fly ball to MacDonald at first base to retire the side.
In the bottom of the fourth, Adkins led things off with a line drive to right-center field and Mendez followed it up with a sac bunt to Villegas at third, who got the out at first, as Adkins advanced to second with one out. Jayden Kirkland popped up to McGaughy on the right side of the mound for out number two, but Villanueva hit a shot into the leftcenter field gap that got by both Rosales and Gabriel Ramos for a two- run inside of the park homerun, pushing the lead to, 140.
McGaughy was relieved by Daniels on the mound for Friona, but after four consecutive walks and the lead stretched to, 15-0, Gabriel Ramos relieved Daniels on the mound for Friona. Redman drew an RBI-walk to make the score, 16- 0, and Adkins and Mendez were both hit by a pitch to bring in two runs, pushing the lead to, 18-0. Gabe Mata pinch hit, popping up to Rafael Rocha at first base to end the inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, Redman relieved Villanueva on the mound, as he got McGaughy to ground out to Soliz at second base for out number one and he got Tafoya to pop up to Adkins at third base for out number two. Redman gave up a walk to Mason Ramos, before getting Villegas to strike out swinging to end the game.
McNeese started the game on the mound and went three innings for the Wildcats earning six punch outs. Villanueva pitched one inning of relief duty and Redman closed out the game pitching one inning, giving up one walk, while earning one strikeout.
The Wildcats hosted Slaton on Thursday. results were not available at press time. They will continue district play with a road game against Dimmitt on Tuesday.
First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.