The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team blew a seven-run lead on Tuesday, in a, 13-9, loss to the Brownfield Cubs on the road.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 8-10-1 overall, 1-3 in district play.
In the top of the first inning, Jonathan Romero got the lead-off man, Jordan Trevino to strikeout swinging for out number one, but Isaiah Rodriguez singled through the left side and Brendon Bowman was hit by a pitch, as Sam Hill came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher. Nick Caballero hit an RBIsingle into left-center field to put the Wildcats in front, 1-0.
Jonavan Weaver followed it up with a two-RBI single to the rightfield fence, to extend the lead to, 3-0. Ian Mendez drew a walk to put runners on the corners for the Wildcats and Mendez took second on a pitch to Ethan Garcia, putting two runners in scoring position. Garcia roped a two-RBI double down the first-base line, pushing their lead to, 5-0.
Garcia took third on a past ball, before Chip Green hit a grounder to second base and beat the throw to first, as Garcia scored to extend the lead to, 6-0. Green took second on a pitch, before Markus Rosales drew a walk, putting runners on first and second for Littlefield.
Romero was relieved on the mound by Ivan DeLeon, before Trevino ripped an RBI-double over the right fielder, stretching the lead to, 7-0. Rodriguez struck out looking and Rosales was picked off at third by DeLeon and was tagged out in a rundown to retire the side.
In the bottom of the first inning, JJ Martinez drew a lead-off walk for the Cubs and Andrew Valenzuela singled to shallow leftcenter field, before DeLeon was hit by a pitch to load the bases. However, Mendez would bounce back on the mound, as he got Romero to strike out swinging for out number one. Adriano Mireles hit a shot back at Mendez on the mound, who went home with it for the force out, and Bowman fired to first for the double play to end the inning.
Both teams went scoreless through the second inning and the Wildcats went down swinging in order in the top of the third inning, bringing the Cubs to the plate in the bottom half of the third inning.
Martinez trippled over Garcia in center field to lead things off and Valenzuela hit a sacrifice fly ball to Rosales in right field to score the run from third, trimming the lead to, 7-1. DeLeon followed it up with a solo home run to left field to cut the lead to, 7-2, before Romero struck out looking for out number two. Mireles singled through the left side and took second on a past ball, before Zarius Garcia singled on an error by Rodriguez at second base, moving Mireles to third, putting runners on the corners for the Cubs. On the next play, Jimenez would be called for interference on the throw down to second by Bowman for out number three to end the inning.
The Wildcats went three up and three down in the top of the fourth inning, and Caballero relieved Mendez on the mound in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Caballero gave up back-to-back walks to begin the inning, and the runners advanced on a past ball, before Martinez struck out swinging for out number one. Valenzuela had a single fall in shallow left field for an RBI to cut the lead to, 7-3.
Ivan Dominguez scored on a past ball, as Valenzuela advanced to second on the play with the score, 7-4. DeLeon drew a walk, but Romero hit a grounder to Green at third base, who tagged his bag at third and fired across the diamond to Garcia at first, but the ball was dropped, making it two outs for the Wildcats. Mireles flew out to Rosales in right field for the third out, as Brownfield continued to chip away at the lead.
Bowman drew a lead-off walk to get the fifth inning under way, as Hill came on to run for the catcher, but Caballero popped up to DeLeon on the mound for out number one. Weaver beat out an infield single to Martinez at shortstop and Mendez followed it up with an RBI-single to left field to push their lead back out to, 8-4.
The runners advanced on a past ball, before Garcia lined out to right field, but the hit was deep enough for Weaver to tag up and score from third, stretching the lead to, 9-4. Green, though would fly out to left field to retire the side.
Brownfield would rally for nine runs in the bottom half of the inning to take their first lead of the game, 13-9.
The Wildcats would be kept scoreless the rest of the game as they fell to the Cubs, 13-9, in their first meeting of the season.
Mendez started on the mound for the Wildcats, pitching three innings, giving up two runs and three walks, while earning three strikeouts. Caballero pitched 1.1 innings giving up four walks and four runs, while earning one strikeouts and Trevino pitched 0.1 innings giving up five runs and one walk. Garcia closed out the game pitching 1.1 innings earning four strikeouts.
The Wildcats hosted Denver City on Friday for their second meeting with the Mustangs. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on April 23 rd when the travel to Muleshoe to take on the Mules for their second district meeting.
First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.