WILDCATS FALL ON THE ROAD TO SLATON, 10-8

The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team’s comeback bid fell short on Tuesday night in Slaton, as they fell to the Tigers, 10-8.

With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 3-6-1 overall on the season.

In the top of the first inning, Jordan Trevino hit a chopper to Sammy Ward for out number one, but Major McNeese singled up the middle and Jonavan Weaver drew a walk to put two runners on for the Wildcats. The runners advanced on a wild pitch, before Brendon Bowman hit a sacrifice grounder to John Bernal at third base, who threw to first for the out, as McNeese scored, and Weaver advanced to third with two outs and the score, 1-0.

Ethan Garcia ripped an RBIdouble into right-center field to extend their lead to, 2-0, but Ian Mendez struck out swinging to retire the side.

Garcia got the lead-off man to fly out to McNeese in center field for out number one in the bottom half of the first, but CJ Anzley drew a walk and took second on a pitch, before Diego Maldonado struck out looking for out number two. Ward hit an RBI-single to left field to cut the lead to, 2-1.

Ward took second on a past ball, before Jakob Garcia drew a walk to put two runners on for the Tigers. Ayden Ramirez struck out swinging to end the inning.

Isaiah Rodriguez flew out to Abram Bernal in left field for out number one in the top of the second inning and Tavion Ivery struck out looking for out number two. Markus Rosales drew a walk to put a runner on for Littlefield. Rosales took second on a bad pick-off to first by Trent Wright, before Trevino hit an RBI-single up the middle to stretch their lead to, 3-1. McNeese struck out swinging to retire the side.

Ethan Garcia got Abram Bernal to strike out looking to begin the bottom of the second inning for out number one, but Eli Perez was hit by a pitch and took second on a dropped pick-off to first by Bowman. Perez took third on a ball away from Armando Ramon, before John Bernal drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Slaton.

John Bernal took second on the pitcher, before the Tigers followed it up with a two-RBI single that got under the glove of Trevino at shortstop to tie the game, 3-3. The runner advanced on a wild pitch, before Anzley drew a walk, ending the day on the mound for Ethan Garcia.

He was relieved by Major McNeese, and the runners advanced on a pitch, before Maldonado hit a two-RBI double to left field to put the Tigers in front, 5-3. Zaylen Soto took third on a past ball, before Ward lined out to Ethan Garcia in center field, but it was deep enough for Soto to tag up and score to push the Slaton lead to, 6-3. Jakob Garcia hit a chopper to Trevino at shortstop, who got the out at first to end the inning.

Both teams were kept quiet in the third inning and the Wildcats were unable to break through in the top of the fourth inning.

In the bottom half of the fourth inning, John Bernal hit a line drive to shortstop that died under the glove of Trevino to give the Tigers a base runner. McNeese got the next batter to strike out swinging for out number one, but Anzley was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second for the Tigers.

John Bernal stole third and scored on a throw down to third that got past Mendez, making the score, 7-3, as Anzley advanced to third on the play. Ward flew out to Rosales in right field, but Anzley was able to tag and score from third to push their lead to, 8-3, before Jakob Garcia grounded out to Trevino at shortstop to end the inning.

The Wildcats got some offense going in the top of the fifth inning, as Rosales singled to left field and Trevino drew a walk. The runners advanced on a past ball, before McNeese hit a sacrifice grounder to Anzley at shortstop and got the out at first for out number one, as Rosalas scored and Trevino advanced to third on the play, trimming the lead to, 8-4.

Weaver was tagged out by Maldonado on a dropped third strike, but Bowman hit an RBIsingle on a throwing error to first by the third baseman, scoring Trevino to make the score, 8-5. Sam Hill came on as the pinch runner, as Ethan Garcia singled past first base and took second on the throw into the infield, but Mendez struck out swinging to retire the side.

McNeese struck out the side in the bottom half of the inning, igniting some energy in the Wildcat dugout.

Zane Funderburk relieved Wright on the mound for Slaton to begin the sixth inning, as Rodriguez singled to left and Chip Green followed it up with a single to right field, before Rosales drew a walk to load the bases. Trevino struck out looking for out number one, but McNeese followed it up with an RBI-single up the middle to cut the lead to, 8-6.

Green scored on a past ball to make it a one-run game, 8-7, but Weaver lined out to Funderburk on the mound, who turned and doubled up Rosales at third to retire the side.

John Bernal doubled to the leftfield fence to begin the bottom of the sixth inning for Slaton, but the next man up lined out to Ethan Garcia in center field for out number one, as John Bernal advanced to third on the play.

Anzley hit an RBI-triple to the right-center field fence to stretch the Slaton lead to, 9-7 Maldonado struck out swinging for out number two, but Ward singled through the left side to drive in a run and make the score, 10-7. Jakob Garcia grounded out to McNeese on the mound to end the inning.

The Wildcats came to the plate in the top of the seventh inning needed three runs to keep the game going.

Bowman led things off with a single to right field and the courtesy runner Jaron Cabello took second on a wild pitch, before Ethan Garcia struck out swinging for out number one. Mendez grounded out to third, as Cabello advanced on the throw to first with two outs. Rodriguez hit an RBIdouble to left-center field to trim the lead to, 10-8, but Green struck out looking to end the game, as Littlefield fell to Slaton, 10-8.

Garcia started on the mound for the Wildcats, pitching 1.1 innings, giving up five walks and five runs, while earning three strikeouts. McNeese pitched 4.2 innings, giving up five runs and three walks, while earning five strikeouts.

The Wildcats were at Dimmitt on Saturday. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a home game against New Home.

First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.