Wildcats run rule Cubs, 11-1, to open district

The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team run- ruled the Brownfield Cubs last Tuesday to open district play, 11-1, at Wildcat Field.

With the win, the Wildcats improved to 8-6 overall, 1-0 in district play.

Jayden Salas singled on a line drive to get things started for the Cubs in the top of the first inning, but Jadason Hernandez struck out swinging and Dylan Castillo struck out looking for out number two. Jayden Tijerina would chopped out to Bradyn Redman at second base to retire the side.

Roman Villanueva was on the bump to start the game for Brownfield, as Isaiah Rodriguez doubled on a missed fly ball by Lotan Jimenez in right-center field. Rodriguez, though, would be picked off at third by the catcher, Aciel Morin for out number one. Adam MacDonald singled to shortstop on a throwing error to first by Clyde Lary.

Major McNeese drew a walk and the runners took second and third on a ball away from Morin behind the plate, before Brenden Bowman hit a grounder to first, but reached base safely, as Tijerina made a throwing error to the plate on the fielder’s choice, allowing two runs to score, putting the Wildcats in front, 2-0. Ja’Den Williams came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher.

Redman would strike out looking for out number two, and Williams was thrown out at second by Morin to end the inning.

Littlefield made quick work of the Cubs in the top of the second inning, as McNeese got Villanueva to fly out to Gabriel Villanueva in left field for out number one. Jimenez singled through the right side to give the Cubs a base runner, but Morin would hit a shot up the middle that was fielded by Rodriguez at shortstop, who stepped on second and fired to MacDonald at first for the double play to retire the side.

Villanueva bunted his way on base to begin the home-half of the second for Littlefield, but Chip Green struck out swinging for out number one. Villanueva was picked at second by Morin, before Gabe Montalvo drew a walk to put a runner on for the Wildcats. A balk moved Montalvo over to second base, but Markus Rosales grounded out to Salas at second base to end the inning.

Lary drew a lead off walk for the Cubs in the top of the third, but Andrew Valenzuela hit into a fielder’s choice to Redman at second base, who went the short way to second for the force out. Salas flew out to Rosales in right field, who doubled Lary up at first to retire the side.

The Wildcats had the top of the order up to begin the bottom half of the third, as Rodriguez singled through the left side and MacDonald was hit by a pitch. The runners advanced on a past ball to McNeese and a play later, Rodriguez scored on a past ball and MacDonald advanced to third making the score, 3-0. McNeese drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Littlefield.

McNeese took second on a fake throw down to second that was cut off by Salas and thrown home to get MacDonald out at the plate for out number one. McNeese took third on a balk by Villanueva, before Bowman drew a walk to put runners on the corners, as Williams came on to run for the catcher.

Redman had an RBI-single fall in shallow center field, stretching the lead to, 4-0, and Villanueva laid a bunt down the third-base line and was safe at first to load the bases for the Wildcats. Green hit a chopper to shortstop that died in front of Lary for an RBI-single, making the score, 5-0. Redman scored on a past ball, as the runners advanced to second and third to push their lead to, 6-0.

Montalvo struck out swinging for out number two, but Rosales laid a bunt down towards third base that was bobbled by Hernandez, putting runners on the corners for the Wildcats. Green scored on a past ball, as Rosales advanced to second on the play, stretching the lead to, 8- 0. Rodriguez singled on a bad throw to first by Hernandez, as Rosales took third on a delayed steal, but MacDonald would ground out to Tijerina at first to end the big third inning for Littlefield.

McNeese and the Wildcat defense got the Cubs to go threeup- and-three-down to begin the fourth inning, as Hernandez popped up to Rodriguez at shortstop, Castillo grounded out to Redman at second base and Tijerina struck out swinging to retire the side.

Castillo relieved Villanueva on the mound to begin the home-half of the fourth inning and he was able to keep the Wildcats quiet despite giving up a single and a walk to begin the inning.

In the top of the fifth, McNeese got Villanueva to fly out to Montalvo in shallow center field for out number one, but he gave up a walk to Jimenez to give the Cubs a base runner. Morin singled on an error by Rodriguez up the middle and Lary singled past MacDonald at first base to load the bases for Brownfield.

Valenzuela singled through the left side to trim the lead to, 8-1, but McNeese got the next to Cubs to strike out swinigng to retire the side.

Green drew a walk to begin the bottom half of the inning for the Wildcats and he took second on a pitch, before Montalvo popped up to Morin in foul territory at third base for out number one. Rosales drew a walk and the runners advanced to second and third on a ball in the dirt.

Rodriguez drew a walk, as Green scored on the past ball and Rosales advanced to third, making the score, 9-1. MacDonald was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Rosales scored on a past ball, making the score, 10-1, with runners on second and third. McNeese would knock a single through the right side to walk it off for the Wildcats, as they run ruled the Cubs, 11-1, in their District- opener.

McNeese tossed five innings for the Wildcats giving up four hits, two walks and one run, 0 earned, while earning five strikeouts.