WILDCATS THUMP BOBCATS, 15-2

The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team got back in the win column on Saturday, as they traveled to Dimmitt and defeated the Bobcats, 15-2.

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 4-6-1 overall on the season.

Littlefield jumped on the Bobcats early in the first inning, as Jordan Trevino led things off with a double to left field. A balk by Edgar Mario Lopez put Trevino on third, before Major McNeese hit an RBI-single to first on an error by Javier Fuentes, putting the Wildcats up, 1-0. Jonavan Weaver followed it up with an RBI-triple over Cristian Hernandez in right field to push their lead to, 2-0, and Brendon Bowman hit a sacrifice grounder to Oscar Rodriguez at second base, who got the out at first, as Weaver scored to extend the lead to, 3-0.

Nick Caballero doubled to rightcenter field, but Ethan Garcia struck out swinging for out number two. Chip Green hit an RBIsingle into left-center field to stretch the lead to, 4-0, and Ian Mendez was walked to put runners on first and second for the Wildcats. Isaiah Rodriguez beat out a grounder to third base to load the bases, but the Wildcats would leave the bases loaded, as Trevino struck out swinging to retire the side.

Garcia went to work on the mound for Littlefield, as Lopez laid down a swinging bunt that was fielded by Bowman and thrown to first for the out. Juan Anima and Trey Aguero both struck out swinging to end the inning.

McNeese got the second inning going with an infield single to Oscar Rodriguez at second base, as nobody covered first base on the play. McNeese broke on a pitch, as Weaver pieced a ball into left field, moving McNeese to third and putting Weaver on second with no outs. Bowman hit a sacrifice fly ball to Hernandez in right field, that allowed McNeese to tag up and score, making the score, 5-0.

Weaver took third on a past ball and Caballero singled on a dropped fly ball by Hernandez in right field to put runners on the corners with one out. Caballero took second on a fake throw down to second by Dimmitt, but Garcia struck out swinging for out number two. Green drew a walk to load the bases, but Mendez popped up to Lopez on the mound to retire the side.

In the bottom of the second inning, Jose Medina singled up the middle to give the Bobcats a base runner, and Edwin Macias drew a walk, before Oscar Rodriguez struck out swinging and Ryan Nino struck out looking to make it two outs, with two runners on for Dimmitt.

Medina stole third and scored on a throw down into left field by Bowman, to make the score, 5-1, before Hernandez struck out swinging to end the inning.

Isaiah Rodriguez singled through the left side to open the third inning, but Trevino struck out looking for out number one. Isaiah Rodriguez took second on a bad pick-off to first by Lopez, and McNeese followed it up with an RBI-single into right field to push their lead to, 6-1. McNeese took second on a pitch to Weaver and took third on another pitch and scored on the throw down that got by the third baseman, making the score, 7-1.

Weaver drew a walk to put a runner on for Littlefield and Bowman doubled to left-center field, as Sam Hill came on as the courtesy runner. Caballero doubled on an error to right-center field, as Weaver scored to extend the lead to, 8-1. Hill scored on a past ball, as Hill took third on the play, with the lead extended to, 9-1, and Garcia hit a grounder to Oscar Rodriguez at second base and was awarded second on a throw into the dugout, as Caballero scored on the play to push the lead to, 10-1.

The rally ended, as Green flew out to left field and Mendez popped up to Medina at shortstop to retire the side.

Garcia took the mound for Littlefield to begin the third inning, but after two walks and a hit batsman to load the bases, he was relieved by Caballero.

Aguero flew out to McNeese in right-center field, as Fuentes tagged up and scored from third, however, Lopez was canned at third by Bowman, as Green was there for the tag for out number two, with the lead trimmed to, 10-2. Caballero got Medina to strike out swinging to end the inning.

Medina relieved Lopez on the mound for Dimmitt to begin the fourth inning, as he gave up a leadoff walk to Isaiah Rodriguez. Isaiah Rodriguez took second on a pitch, before Trevino grounded out to Lopez at shortstop, moving Isaiah Rodriguez to third with one out.

McNeese hit an RBI-single into right field to push their lead to, 11-2. McNeese was canned at second for out number two and Weaver popped up to Medina in foul territory on the first-base line to retire the side.

Macias struck out swinging for out number one in the bottom of the fourth inning, but Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to put a runner on for Dimmitt. However, Nino lined out to Trevino at shortstop, who was able to doubled up Rodriguez at first to end the inning.

Both teams went scoreless through the fifth and sixth innings, but in the top of the seventh, Caballero flew out to right field for out number one. Garcia hit a grounded to the right side and beat Medina to first base to give the Wildcats a base runner. Garcia took second on a ball in the dirt, before Green was walked and Tavion Ivery was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Isaiah Rodriguez hit a three-RBI-double to left field and was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple, making the score, 14-2, with two outs. Trevino doubled to right-center field and McNeese hit a pop up to shortstop that dropped in for a hit, scoring Trevino from third, but McNeese was called for being out of the base patch between third and home to end the inning, with the score, 15-2.

Caballero retired the Bobcats in order in the bottom half of the side, as Littlefield went on to take the contest, 15-2.

Garcia started on the mound and pitched two innings, giving up four walks and two runs, while earning four punch outs. Caballero pitched five innings, earning five strike outs, while giving up one walk.

The Wildcats were at home against New Home on Tuesday. Results were not available at press time. They will close out the predistrict schedule on Saturday with a home game against Bushland.

First-pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.