The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team won a thriller on Friday night, as they walked it off against the Borger Bulldogs, 11-10.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 4-3 overall on the season.
Cameron Counts singled to left field to get the top of the first inning going for Borger and stole second on a pitch, beating the tag by senior shortstop, Chris Brown, before Breckyn Thomas knocked an RBI-double into right field, making the score, 1-0.
Thomas took third on a past ball, before Isaiah Wallace laid down a bunt, that was fielded by senior pitcher, PJ Cruz, who flipped it home to junior catcher, Davin Saldana, who slapped the tag on Thomas and then fired to second for the double play to clear the bases. Cruz got Cameron Chambers to hit a grounder to him on the mound, as he ran it over to first for the out to retire the side.
Saldana singled on an error by Kagen Keener at second base, but senior, Blake Green struck out swinging, as Saldana took second on a dropped third strike. Senior, Ethan Hackler, singled over first base, moving Saldana over to third base, but senior Chris Brown, struck out lookin for out number two.
Hackler took second on a pitch, before junior, Jordan Trevino, hit a shot up the middle that was stopped on a slide by Keener at second base, but the throw was not in time to first, as Saldana scored to tie the game, 1-1. Hackler stole third on a pitch and scored on a throwing error to third by the catcher, as Trevino advanced to second, with the Wildcats pulling ahead, 2-1. However, senior, Cash Price, struck out swinging to end the inning.
Gabriel Campoya hit a grounder to Green at first to begin the second inning, but a late cover by Cruz, allowed Campoya to reach base safely. Keener was hit by a pitch and Barrett Watkins hit an RBI fielder’s choice to Trevino at second base, who got the out at second, but the throw to first by Brown was off the mark, allowing a run to score to tie the game, 2-2.
on an error by senior, Caden Longoria in center field, but Caden McMurtrey hit into a fielder’s choice to Brown at shortstop, who bobbled the ball, but got the force out at second for out number two. Counts hit a grounder to Trevino at second base, who got force at second on the fielder’s choice to retire the side.
Longoria hit a slow roller to the right side of the mound that was fielded by the pitcher Wallace, who tried to take it himself to first, but Longoria was able to beat him to the bag to give Littlefield a runner. But, he would be stranded on second, as the Wildcats next three batters went down in order to end the inning.
Thomas opened the top of the third inning with a base hit to left field and Wallace knocked a ground rule double over the leftcenter field fence, before Chambers struck out swinging for out number one.
Campoya hit a sacrifice grounder to Brown at shortstop, who got the out at first, as the run came in to score to put Borger up, 3-2. Wallace took third on a delayed steal on the play. Cruz got Keener to strike out looking to retire the side.
Counts relieved Wallace on the mound for Borger and Green was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom half of the third inning. Hackler singled to left field and Brown hit a shot to Campoya at third, who stepped on the bag for the force out before throwing to first, but the throw got by the first baseman rolling into right field, as Hackler scored and Brown ended up on third with an RBI-triple to tie the game, 3-3.
Trevino struck out swinging for out number two, but Price drew a walk and Brown scored on a past ball, as Price advnaced to third on errors, as the Wildcats went up, 4-3, before Green struck out swinging to end the inning.
Cruz got the Bulldogs to go down in order in the top of the fourth inning, as Watkins and Hipolito grounded out to Trevino at second base and McMurtrey hit a shot back at Cruz on the mound, who got the out at first to retire the side.
Jonovan Weaver grounded out to Keener at second base to begin the bottom of the fourth inning, but Cruz picked him up with a double off of the left field fence. Saldana hit a grounder to third that was bobbled, but Campoya recovered and threw to first for the out, as Cruz took third on the play. Green singled on an error by Wallace at shortstop, allowing Cruz to score to extend their lead to, 5-3.
Green took second on a pitch, before Hackler hit an RBI-single through the left side to push their lead to, 6-3. Brown singled off of the bag at third, but Trevino hit a shot back at Counts on the mound for out number three to end the inning.
Cruz got Danny Harbin to strike out swinging to begin the top of the fifth inning, before giving up a walk to Thomas. Wallace hit into a fielder’s choice to Brown at shortstop, but the flip to second was dropped by Trevino, putting runners on first and second for Borger. Chambers hit an RBIsingle to left field to cut the lead to, 6-4, and Campoya hit into a fielder’s choice to Trevino at second base, who got the force out at second, but Brown’s throw to first was off the mark allowing a run to score to make it a one-run game, 6-5.
Keener singled to right field, advnacing Campoya to third and Watkins hit an RBI single into shallow center field to tie the game, 6-6. The two-out rally continued, as Hipolito hit an RBIsingle on an error by Brown at shortstop to put Borger out in front, 7-6. McMurtrey singled to left field, as Green relieved Cruz on the mound and Brown slid over to first base. Counts hit a two-RBI single up the middle to push their lead to, 9-6, as Thomas hit a one-hopper to Cruz at shortstop, who fired to first for the out to retire the side.
Senior, Turner Heffington, was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and a pop up to first by junior, Ethan Garcia, was dropped by Watkins putting runners on first and second for the Wildcats. Weaver hit a sacrifice grounder to third and twas thrown out at first, but Cruz roped a two-RBI triple into rightcenter field to close the gap and make the score, 9-8.
Saldana hit a sacrifice fly to left field, that allowed Cruz to tag-up and score to tie the game, 9-9. Green singled to center field and took second on a pitch, before Hackler struck out swinging to end the inning.
Wallace singled to center field on a missed diving catch by Garcia and Chambers was hit by a pitch, and Campoya hit a chopper back at Green on the mound, who’s throw was off the mark to third to load the bases. Keener lined out to Heffington in left field, but Watkins singled to left field for an RBI to put Borger back in front, 10-9.
Hipolito hit a shot back at Green on the mound, who went home for the force out, as Saldana then threw to third for the double play to retire the side.
Brown flew out to center field to begin the bottom of the sixth inning, but senior, Gus McNabb, drew a walk to give the Wildcats a base runner. Heffington hit a sacrifice grounder to Keener at second on the hit-and-run, and was thrown out at first as McNabb moved into scoring position with two outs.
McNabb stole third on a pitch, before Garcia hit an RBI-single into right field to tie the game, 10-10. Garcia took second and third on a bad pick-off to first by Counts and Weaver and Cruz drew walks to load the bases. Garcia tried to steal home on a ball in the dirt, but got into a rundown, however a bad throw home allowed him to score the walk-off run, as Littlefield took the contest, 11-10.
Cruz started on the mound for the Wildcats, pitching four innings and giving up seven runs and two walks, while earning three strikeouts. Green came in to close out the final two innings, giving up three runs and one walk.
The Wildcats were at River Road on Monday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Saturday with a double-header against Hawley.
First pitch is set for 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.