The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team was plagued by errors in game two of their Class 3A Regional Quarterfinal series with Tornillo on Thursday, as they fell to the Coyotes, 10-1, to even the series 1-1.
The Wildcats struggled to get anything going offensively, early in the contest, as they went three-up-and-three down in the top of the first inning. Ethan Garcia kept the Coyotes quiet in the home half of the first, as he got Javier Ceballos to pop up to Davin Saldana behind the plate in foul territory for out number one. Oscar Reyes struck out looking and Angel Santeilana struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Wildcats put the ball in play in the top of the second inning, but were unable to get a runner on base, as Chris Brown flew out to center field, Gus McNabb grounded out to Ceballos at second base and Garcia lined out to Derek Sanchez on the mound to retire the side.
Garcia gave up a lead-off single to Noe Moreno in the bottom of the second, but he recovered, as he got Rolando Ruvalcaba to strike out swinging for out number one. Victor Valenzuela popped up to Gus McNabb in foul territory at first for out number two and Jesus Delgado struck out swinging to end the inning.
Jonavan Weaver got the Wildcats going in the top of the third with a single to right-center field on a drop by the center fielder. Saldana doubled to right-center field, as Caden Longoria came on as the courtesy runner. Turner Heffington hit an RBI-single to right field to put the Wildcats up, 1-0, with runners on the corners. Heffington was picked off at first by Sanchez for out number one and Trevino hit into a fielder’s choice, as Longoria was thrown out at home for out number two. Trevino was picked off at second by Ruvalcaba to retire the side.
Garcia got Sanchez to strike out swinging to lead off the bottom of the third for Tornillo, but Gomez hit a chopper to Ethan Hackler at third base, and he made a low throw to first to put a runner on for the Coyotes. Gomez took second on a pitch, before Ceballos flew out to Salazar on the right field line for out number two. He collided with the right fielder, and on a heads-up play, Gomez took third and scored to tie the game, 1-1.
Garcia got Reyes swinging to end the inning, with the game tied, 1-1.
The Wildcats got a lead-off walk from Green in the top of the fourth inning, but were unable to do anything with it, as they stranded to runners on base.
Garcia gave up a walk and a single in the bottom half of the inning, but the Wildcat defense was able to keep the Coyotes at bay heading into the top of the fifth inning.
The Wildcats went scoreless in the top of the fifth and in the bottom half of the inning, after getting Sanchez to strike out swinging for out number one, Garcia gave up a walk to Gomez and hit Ceballos to put two runners on for the Coyotes. The runners advanced to second and third on a past ball and Reyes flew out to Heffington in left field for out number two. Gomez tagged up at third and scored on a throw off the mark from Heffington and a throw to third rolled into left field allowing Ceballos to score from second, making the score, 3-1. Garcia got Santeilana to strike out swinging to end the inning, but not before Tornillo was able to grab the lead.
The Wildcats left one runner on in the top of the sixth inning, as they were unable to barrel anything up offensively.
Trevino relieved Garcia on the mound to begin the sixth inning and he gave up back-to-back walks to start the inning. The Coyotes would take advantage of several Littlefield mistakes, as they tacked on seven runs to take a, 10-1, lead into the top of the seventh inning.
The Wildcats were unable to push any runs across in the top of the seventh, as they dropped game two to Tornillo, 10-1. Garcia threw five innings for the
Wildcats, earning eight strikeouts, while giving up two walks and three runs. Trevino pitched the final inning for the Wildcats, givin up seven runs and three walks, while earning one strike out.
Game three will be Saturday in Monahans, for a chance to go to the Class 3A Regional Semi-Final.
First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.