WILDCATS RUN RULE MULESHOE, 20-1

The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team run ruled the Muleshoe Mules on Saturday 20-1, in Muleshoe to secure a play-off spot.

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 9-11-1 overall, 2-4 in district play.

Jordan Trevino laid a bunt down the third base line, catching the defense off guard for a lead-off infield single. He took second on a pitch, before Major McNeese struck out swinging for out number one. Jonavan Weaver beat out an infield single to third, as Trevino advanced to third, putting runners on the corners for Littlefield.

Weaver stole second on a bobbled pitch behind the plate by Chayton Caywood, but Nick Caballero struck out swinging for out number two. Brendon Bowman struck out looking to retire the side.

McNeese made quick work of the first three Mules’ batters, as he retired them in order on strikeouts to end the inning.

In the top of the second inning, Isaiah Rodriguez had a pop up fall behind the mound for an infield single and Ethan Garcia singled through the left side to put two runners on for the Wildcats. The runners advanced on a past ball, before Ian Mendez drew a walk to load the bases. Chip Green was hit by a pitch to bring in the game’s first run, making the score, 1-0.

Garcia scored on a past ball and Trevino ripped a two-RBI single past second base to extend their lead to, 4-0. McNeese hit a sacrifice chopper over Juan Simental on the mound, but the shortstop, Gael Molina was there for the backup, as he fielded the ball and threw to first for the out. Weaver knocked an RBI-single through the left side and took second on the throw home from the outfield to make the score, 5-0, with one out. Caballero kept the rally going with a single to shallow center field, moving Weaver over to third, leaving runners on the corners for Littlefield. Caballero took second on a pitch and Weavers scored on a throw into center field by Caywood, pushing the lead to, 6-0.

Bowman hit a sacrifice chopper to Simental on the mound, who got the out at first as Cabellero advanced to third on the play with two outs. Caballero scored on a balk by Simental, before Rodriguez lined out to Dok Gardner at third base to retire the side.

In the bottom half of the second, McNeese got Molina to strike out looking for out number one. Ryan Dominguez hit a grounder to Trevino at shortstop and beat the throw to first to give the Mules their first base runner of the game. However, Simental and Moreno would strike out swinging to end the inning, stranding the runner on base.

Garcia drew a lead-off walk to open the third inning and took second on a pitch; the throw down to second rolled into right field, allowing Garcia to also take third on the play. Garcia would score on a past ball, before Mendez was hit by a pitch, making the score, 8-0, with a runner on first for the Wildcats.

Green laid a bunt down the third base line that stayed fair, allowing Green to reach base with no throw attempt from third. Simental was relieved by Gardner on the mound. The runners advanced on a pitch, before Trevino knocked a two-RBI single up the middle to extend the lead to, 10-0.

McNeese grounded out to Gardner on the mound, as Trevino advanced to second on the play with one out, but Weaver drove in the run from second with an RBI-single to center field, making the score, 11-0. Caballero flew out to Quezada in center field for out number two, but Bowman singled up the middle and Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. They would stay loaded, as Garcia chopped out to Zach Hasley at first base to retire the side.

McNeese got Quezada and Flores to both strike out looking for the first two outs of the inning, but Gardner singled on an error by Trevino at shortstop. However, he would not get far, as he was picked off at second by Bowman to end the inning.

Mendez drew a walk to open the fourth inning for Littlefield and Green singled to left field, before Trevino drew a walk to load the bases. McNeese ripped a two-RBI double into left-center field to extend their lead to, 13-0. Jaron Cabello hit into a fielder’s choice to third, as Trevino was tagged out in a rundown between home and third, as McNeese advanced to third and Cabello to second with one out.

JJ Soria struck out looking for out number two, but Armando Ramon was hit by a pitch to load the bases, for Tavion Ivery, who blasted a grand slam to left field, clearing the bases to make the score, 17-0. Dominguez relieved Gardner on the mound, as he got Garcia to strike out swinging to retire the side.

In the bottom of the fourth, McNeese gave up a lead-off walk to Caywood and Hasley singled to left field, bu Caywood was picked off by Ramon trying to steal third and Molina struck out looking for out number two. Dominguez singled on an error by Soria at third base, leaving runners on the corners for the Mules. Hasley scored on a past ball, as Dominguez advanced to second with the score trimmed to, 17-1. McNeese got Simental to strike out swinging to end the inning.

Sam Hill and Markus Rosales drew back-to-back walks to begin the fifth inning for Littlefield and Trevino hit an RBI-single up the middle, taking second on the throw to third, as they extended their lead to, 18-1. Brady Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Cabello hit an RBI-single into shallow leftcenter field to make the score, 19-1. Soria struck out swinging for out number one and Bowman struck out looking for out number two, but Ivery was hit by a pitch to bring in a run, stretching the lead to, 20-1. Garcia would fly out to Simental in right field to retire the side.

Bowman relieved McNeese on the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning and recorded three strikeouts to end the game, as the Wildcats went on to take the contest, 20-1, in five innings.

McNeese pitched four innings for the Wildcats earning 10 strikeouts, while giving up one walk and one run. Bowman closed out the game in the fifth inning, earning three strikeouts.

The Wildcats hosted Lamesa on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time. They will close out the regular season on Saturday with a home game against Brownfield.

First pitch is scheduled for noon.