The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team knocked off the #8 Denver City Mustangs on Tuesday, 9-6, in their district-opener at Wildcat Field.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 8-5 overall, 1-0 in district play.
In the top of the first inning, senior pitcher, Chris Brown, got Israel Gandara to strike out looking for the first out of the inning. RJ Hurtado grounded out to senior, Ethan Hackler, at third base, but Erlan Lozano and Uriel Rodriguez were both hit by a pitch to put two runners on for the Mustangs.
Eric Estrada hit an RBI-double to the right field fence to put the Mustangs up, 1-0. Sebastian Perez followed it up with a hit to junior, Jordan Trevino, at shortstop, who made a low throw to first that got by senior, Blake Green, at first allowing two runs to score to extend their lead to, 3-0. Brown would get the next batter to strike out looking to retire the side.
The Wildcats answered in the bottom half of the inning, as Trevino singled up the middle and Green followed it up with a two-run bomb off of the scoreboard to unload the bases and cut the lead to, 3-2. Hackler struck out swinging for out number one, but Brown singled through the left side, as senior, Joseph Salinas, came on as the courtesy runner for the pitcher.
Salinas took second on a ball in the dirt, but junior, Ethan Garcia, popped up to Mario Sanchez on the mound for out number two and senior, Gus McNabb, grounded out to Gandara at second to end the inning.
Brown got Sanchez to strike out swinging to open the second inning, but Ernesto Martinez drew a walk, as Michael Farrell came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher. Gandara laid down a bunt that was fielded by Brown, but the throw to first was dropped by Green, as Farrell advanced to third to put runners on the corners for the Mustangs.
Hurtado flew out to junior, Jaron Cabello, in right field for out number two and Hurtado was tagged out in a rundown by Green, but not before Farrell was able to score from third, extending the lead to, 4-2.
Senior, Jeremiah Salazar, hit a slow roller to Perez at third and was able to beat the throw to first to give the Wildcats a runner. Jonavan Weaver laid down a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by Martinez and thrown to first for the out, as Salazar moved up 90-feet.
Senior, Turner Heffington, singled to right field to put runners on the corners for Littlefield and Trevino hit a sacrifice grounder to first, as Salazar scored on a throw home past the catcher, trimming the lead to, 4-3. Heffington was thrown out at home trying to score on a past ball to end the inning.
Brown got Lozano to strike out swinging to begin the third inning, but Rodriguez singled off of the glove of Trevino at shortstop. Estrada hit a shot up the middle that was fielded by Trevino, who stepped on second and fired to first for the double play. Perez drew a walk and took second on a pitch, before Taylor Sellers hit a two-RBI double to left field, making the score, 6-3. Brown got Sanchez to strike out swinging to retire the side.
Green drew a lead-off walk and Hackler followed it up with a single to shallow center field. Brown hit a shot to third that was stopped on a dive by Perez, who went to second on the fielder’s choice leaving runners on the corners for Littlefield. Garcia hit an RBI-single to center field to cut the lead to, 6-4, and McNabb drew a walk to load bases. But, Salazar laid down a sacrifice bunt that got Salinas out at the plate and Weaver flew out to Gandara at second base to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, Martinez grounded out to Salzar at second base and Gandara popped up to Salazar in shallow right field for the first two outs of the inning. Hurtado singled to left-center field, but Lozano lined out to Trevino at shortstop to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the inning, Heffington and Trevino drew back-to-back walks to open the inning, but Green hit into a fielder’s choice to shortstop, as they went the short way to second for the force out. Hackler drew a walk to load the bases, as Sanchez was relieved on the mound Perez.
Brown hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score the runner from third, but Hackler was tagged out in a rundown to end the inning with the Mustangs up one run, 6-5.
Brown kept the Mustangs quiet in the top of the fifth inning and the Wildcats got the sticks going in the bottom half of the inning, as Garcia singled to center field to lead things off. McNabb followed it up with an RBI-double to left-center field to tie the game, 6-6.
Salazar lined out to Gandara at second base for out number one, but Weaver drew a walk and McNabb advanced to third on a past ball on the play, putting runners on the corners for the Wildcats. Heffington walked to load the bases and a balk on Perez moved the runners up 90-feet, giving the Wildcats a one-run lead, 7-6.
Green was hit by a pitch, but Hackler popped up to Gandara at second base to end the inning.
Brown got Sanchez to fly out to Cabello in right field for out number one, but Martinez singled off of the glove of Hackler at third; David Escobar came on as the courtesy runner. Gandara singled to center field on a ball that was lost in the light by Garcia, but Hurtado and Lozano both struck out swinging to retire the side.
Brown was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning, as Salinas came on as the courtesy runner for the pitcher. Garcia popped up to Perez in front of the plate for out number one, but McNabb singled over first to put two runners on for Littlefield. Salazar struck out swinging for out number two, but Weaver ripped a shot into the gap in right-center field to score two runs, stretching the Littlefield lead to, 9-6.
Heffington, though, struck out looking to end the inning.
Rodriguez roped a double over Heffington in left field to open the seventh inning, but Estrada lined out to Garcia in right-center field for out number one. Brown was relieved on the mound by Garcia, as he gave up a walk to Perez. Sellers hit into a fielder’s choice to Trevino at shortstop, who got the lead runner at third for out number two. Garcia got Sanchez to strike out looking to end the game, as the Wildcats took their first meeting with the Mustangs, 9-6.
Brown pitched 6.1 innings for the Wildcats earning seven strikeouts, while giving up four walks and six runs. Garcia closed out the final 0.2 innings giving up one walk, while earning one strike out.
The Wildcats had a doubleheader with Kermitt on Saturday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue district play on Tuesday with a road game against Muleshoe.
First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.