WILDCATS DOWN LAMESA, 6-2, EARN THIRD SEED ENTERING PLAY-OFFS

The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team won a seeding game over Lamesa on Monday, 6-2, at Lubbock-Cooper High School, to earn the third seed in District 3-3A going into the play-offs.

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 12-11-1 overall, 5-4 in district play.

The Wildcats were at the plate first to begin the game, as Jordan Trevino drew a leadoff walk to get things started. Major McNeese grounded out to first, as Trevino moved up 90-feet to second base with one out. Jonavan Weaver struck out swinging for out number two, but Nick Caballero hit a shot to left-center field for an RBI-double to get the Wildcats on the board. Littlefield would strand the runner on second, as Ian Mendez struck out swinging to retire the side.

Ethan Garcia got the lead-off man, Dom Soliz to strike out swinging in the bottom of the first inning, but Aiden Vela singled to center field and took second on a past ball, before Christian Ruiz singled through the right side, driving in the run to tie the game, 1-1. Zeke Vela popped up to McNeese in shallow center field for out number two, before Zeph Sifuentes drew a walk to give Lamesa a base runner. However, he would be left on, as Luke Martinez hit a chopper to Ian Mendez at third, who stepped on third base for the force out to end the inning.

A pitchers duel took place over the next two innings, with neither team able to scratch a run across the plate.

But, in the top of the fourth inning, after a strike out by Mendez to lead things off, Garcia doubled on an error by Soliz in shallow right field to spark the Wildcat offense. Isaiah Rodriguez singled through the left side and he took second on a pitch, before Bowman struck out swinging for out number two. Chip Green came to the plate with two outs and runners on second and third. The count went full and on the next pitch, Garcia stole home to give the Wildcats the lead, as Green drew a walk and took second on the play, with Rodriguez advancing to third on the play with the score, 2-1.

Trevino chopped out to Zeke Vela at first base to retire the side, but not before Littlefield could regain the lead.

Martinez hit a grounder to Trevino at shortstop and just beat the throw to first to open the bottom half of the fourth inning for Lamesa. Martinez took second on a past ball and third on a wild pitch, before Rogelio Vela flew out to center field on a diving catch by McNeese, as Martinez tagged up and scored from third to tie the game, 2-2. Garcia would bounce back to get the next two batters, as Xavier Zorola grounded out to Trevino at shortstop and Moses Moreno was thrown out at first on a dropped third strike by Bowman to end the inning.

Ruiz was relieved by Rogelio Vela on the mound for Lamesa, as McNeese singled on an infield hit to second and Weaver followed it up with an RBIdouble to right-center field to put the Wildcats back in front, 3-2. Caballero struck out swinging for out number one, but Mendez drew a walk to put runners on first and second for Littelfield. However, they would be stranded on base, as Garcia and Rodriguez both struck out swinging to retire the side.

Garcia made quick work of Lamesa in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he got Soliz to strike out swinging for out number one. Aiden Vela popped up a bunt to Garcia on the mound for out number two and Ruiz flew out to McNeese in left-center field to end the inning.

In the top of the sixth inning, Markus Rosales struck out swinging for out number one, but Green singled up the middle and on a hit-and-run, Trevino singled through the right side, moving Green to third to put runners on the corners for Littlefield. Trevino took second on a pitch, before McNeese hit a sacrifice grounder to Zorola at shortstop, who got the out at first, as Green scored to extend the lead to, 4-2, with two outs. Weaver would chop out to Zorola at shortstop, who got the out at first to retire the side.

McNeese relieved Garcia on the mound in the sixth inning and after giving up a lead-off single to center field, McNeese got Sifuentes, Martinez and Rogelio Vela to go down swinging to end the inning.

Caballero got the top of the seventh going with a triple over Aiden Vela in center field, but Mendez flew out to Martinez in shallow left field for out number one. Garcia ripped a triple over the left fielder to drive in the run, making the score, 5-2. Rodriguez followed it up with a sacrifice fly to center field that allowed Garcia to tag up and score from third to push their lead to, 6-2. Bowman, though, would ground out to Soliz at second base to retire the side.

In the bottom of the seventh, McNeese got Zorola to fly out to Green in right field and got Moreno to strike out looking, before giving up a walk to Soliz with two outs. Aiden Vela singled on a throwing error to first by Rodriguez, but McNeese would retire Ruiz to end the game, as the Wildcats took the contest, 6-2, over Lamesa.

Garcia started on the mound for the Wildcats pitching five innings, giving up three walks and two runs, while earning four strikeouts. McNeese closed out the game for Littlefield pitching two innings, giving up one walk, while earning four strikeouts.

The Wildcats will begin a best of three play-off series with Presidio on Friday in Pecos. Game one will be Friday at 7 p.m. and Game two will be Saturday at 11 a.m. Game three will follow Game two on Saturday if necessary.