The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team walked off with a, 5-4, victory over River Road on Thursday night at Wildcat Field.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 2-3 overall on season. Senior, Chris Brown, got River Road’s lead-offman, Lance Welps to strike out looking for out number one in the top of the first inning, and Jaret Griffm popped up to senior, PJ Cruz, at shortstop for out number two. Luis Delgado hit a shot off of the glove of Brown on the mound and beat the throw to first by third baseman, Ethan Hackler, to give River Road a base runner.
But, Ries Clark hit a chopper back at Brown on the mound, who flipped it over to senior, Blake Green, at first to retire the side.
Junior, Davin Saldana, hit a chopper to Clark at third and was thrown out at first for out number one in the bottom half of the first inning. Green drew a walk and Hackler singled through the left side, before Brown struck out swinging for out number two.
Senior, Gus McNabb, was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but junior, Jordan Trevino, hit a shot back at Clell Caldwell on the mound, who threw to first for the out to end the inning.
Brown made quick work ofRiver Road in the top of the second inning, as Caldwell lined out to Green at first base and Tate Upchurch struck out swinging for out number two. Trent Logan singled to right field, but Brown got Mason Henderson to strike out looking to retire the side.
In the bottom of the second inning, junior, Ethan Garcia, was thrown out at first on a dropped third strike for out number one, but, senior, Turner Heffington, singled to shortstop on an error by Jason Quintanilla. Cruz struck out swinging for out number two, but not before Heffington stole second and third on the pitcher. Saldana singled on an error by Quintanilla at shortstop, as Heffington scored to put Littlefield up, 1-0.
Green struck out swinging to end the inning.
Quintanilla hit a grounder deep in the hole to McNabb at second and beat the throw to first to give River Road a base runner. Welps laid down a bunt that was fielded by Saldana, but the throw to first sailed over Green into right field, allowing Quintanilla to score to tie the game, 1-1, with Welps ending up on second with a double.
Griffin flew out to Trevino in leftcenter field, but Delgado drew a walk, as Welps took third on a wild pitch, putting runners on the corners for River Road. Clark knocked an RBI-single through the left side to put River Road up, 2-1, and Caldwell singled on an error by McNabb at second base to load the bases.
The infield was on the grass to cut the run as Upchurch came to the plate. He hit a grounder to McNabb at second, who threw home for the force out, Saldana then fired to Green at first for the double play to get out of the inning.
Both teams went scoreless until the top of the fifth inning. Welps hit a grounder to second base, that was charged by senior, Jeremiah Salazar, who threw to first for out number one. Griffin singled through the left side and Delgado hit a grounder to Trevino at shortstop, but on a hit and run, the runners were safe everywhere. Griffin and Delgado advanced to second and third on a past ball, before Clark hit an RBI-single to Salazar at second, who got the out at first for out number two, as River Road stretched the lead to, 3-1.
Caldwell hit a fly ball to senior, Caden Longoria, in center field, but he couldn’t find the ball as it fell in for a hit allowing Delgado to score from third making the score, 4-1. Green relieved Brown on the mound, as Upchurch singled to left field, but the ball was fielded by Heffington, who fired home to Saldana, who dove for the tag to get Clark out at the plate to retire the side.
Hackler led off the bottom half of the fifth inning with a double to left-center field and Brown followed it up with an RBI-single on a throwing error to first by Quintanilla at shortstop, making the score, 4-2. Salazar struck out swinging for out number one, but Brendon Bowman singled to shallow center field moving Brown over to third. Brown stole home on a past ball, as Bowman moved up to second, making the score, 3-4, before senior, Cash Price, drew a walk to put runners on first and second for the Wildcats. Heffmgton drew a walk to load the bases and Bowman stole home on a past ball to tie the game, 4-4, as Price and Heffmgton moved up 90 feet. Longoria drew a walk to reload the bases, as Upchurch relieved Mason Henderson on the mound.
Upchurch got Saldana to pop up to second for an infield fly and Green to fly out to Logan in right field to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, Logan lined out to junior, Jaron Cabello, in center field for out number one and Green got Henderson to strike out swinging for out number two. Quintanilla lined out to Green on the mound to retire the side.
In the bottom half of the side, Hackler lined out to Logan in right field for out number one, but Brown drew a walk to give Littlefield a base runner. Brown took second on a pitch to Salazar, as senior, Tyree Jones, came on as a pinch runner. Jones took third on a past ball, as Salazar drew a walk, putting runners on the corners.
Trevino hit a shot at Quintanilla at shortstop, who threw home to keep the run from scoring. Jones got in a rundown between home and third and Henderson went to lay the tag on Jones, but he dropped the ball, as Jones ran home to score, as the Wildcats walked off with a, 5-4, victory over River Road.
Brown pitched 4.2 innings, giving up four runs and one walk, while earning four strikeouts. Green closed the game pitching the final 1.1 innings, earning one strikeout.
The Wildcats played Perryton and Borger on Friday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Monday with a road game against River Road.
First pitch is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.