The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team stumbled against the Roosevelt Eagles on Monday in their first meeting of district play, 5-3.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 1-2 in district play.
Blayton Soliz started on the mound for the Wildcats pitching six innings, giving up four hits, two runs and one walk, while earning one strike out. Ana Ayala pitched 0.2 innings giving up one hit, two walks and three runs. Jayden Kirkland pitched 0.1 innings, giving up one hit and walk, while earning one strike out.
The Wildcat defense got the Eagles to go three-upand- three-down, as Soliz got Caleb Daniel to ground out to Kyzer Billingsley at shortstop for out number one. Ryan Bradshaw chopped out to Billingsley at shortstop for out number two and Cameron Vasquez flew out to Ayala in right-center field to retire the side.
In the home-half of the first, Gabe Mata led things off for the Wildcats with a single to right-center field, but Ayala struck out looking for out number one. Mata would get picked off at second on a throw down from Everitt Rodriquez and Dawson Adkins grounded out to Bradshaw at shortstop to end the inning.
The Wildcat defense went back to work in the top of the second, as Rodriquez hit a shot to second base that was fielded by Adkins and thrown to first for out number one. Jaden Zuniga popped up to Adkins at second base for out number two, but Gavin Gonzales singled up the middle to give the Eagles a base runner. He would be left stranded, as Daren Fay flew out to Ayala in center field to retire the side.
The Wildcats found some offense in the bottom half of the second, as Cayson Villarreal led things off with a chop to Fay at third base; a high throw to first put Villarreal into scoring position with no outs. Kirkland ripped an RBI-double down the third- base line to put Littlefield in front, 1-0, before Billingsley struck out looking for out number one.
Kirkland stole third on a ball in the dirt, and Soliz drew a walk to put runners on the corners for the Wildcats. Kirkland scored on a bad pick to first by Vasquez to make the score, 2-0, and on the next pitch, Soliz stole second, before Brayden Black struck out looking for out number two. CJ Weaver would chop out to Bradshaw at shortstop to end the inning.
Littlefield’s defense made quick work of the Eagles in the top of the third, as Uriel Rivero grounded out to Billingsley at shortstop and Jesus Macias laid down a swinging bunt that was fielded by Soliz, who got the out at first for out number two. Daniel would ground out to Adkins at second base to retire the side.
The Wildcats had the top of the order due up in the bottom of the third, but they were unable to get anything going, as Mata lined out to Zuniga in left field for out number one, and Ayala chopped out to Vasquez on the mound for out number two. Adkins drew a walk and would take second on a bad pickoff to first by Vasquez, but Villarreal would fly out to Macias in right field to end the inning.
The score stood until the top of the sixth inning, as Daniel drew a lead- off walk for the Eagles. A pick off to first got by Weaver, allowing Daniel to go first- to- third on the play, before Bradshaw flew out to Craig Jennings in shallow right field for out number one. The Eagles would get on the board, as Vasquez roped an RBI-double to the center- field fence, cutting the lead to, 2-1.
Rodriquez singled on a diving stop by Billingsley up the middle, putting runners on the corners. Rodriquez stole second on a fake-throw down to second that was cut off by Billingsley, but Billingsley hesitated on the throw home, as the Eagles scored to tie the game, 22. Zuniga was tagged out by Kirkland on a dropped third strike and Gonzales grounded out to Weaver at first base to retire the side.
Adkins got the Wildcat offense going in the bottom of the sixth, with a single to shortstop on an error by Bradshaw and Villarreal followed it up with an RBI-double to leftcenter field, putting the Wildcats up, 3-2. Kirkland laid down a sacrifice bunt to the right side moving Villarreal over to third, as the Eagles got the out at first for out number one. Billingsley struck out looking for out number two and Soliz grounded out to Bradshaw at shortstop to end the inning.
Ayala relieved Soliz on the mound to begin the seventh inning, as he got Fay to ground out to Adkins for out number one. Jeremiah Gonzales drew a walk, as Espiry Beltran came on to run for the Eagles. Macias laid down a sacrifice bunt on the first-base line, as he was tagged out by Weaver for out number two.
Daniel drew a walk and Bradshaw knocked an RBI-single through the left side to tie the game, 3-3. Kirkland relieved Ayala on the mound for the Wildcats, as Vasquez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rodriquez roped a two- RBI double over Weaver at first base to put the Eagles in front, 5-3, and Zuniga drew a walk to load the bases, but Kirkland would get Gonzales to strike out swinging to retire the side.
The Wildcats were unable to answer in the bottom of the seventh, as they dropped the contest to Roosevelt, 5-3.
The Wildcats hosted Friona on Saturday for their first meeting with the Chieftains. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a road game at Slaton.
First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.