WILDCATS THUMP LAMESA, 9-2

The Littlefield Wildcats rallied back to take down the Lamesa Golden Tornadoes on Tuesday in their second meeting of district play, 9-2, at Wildcat Field.

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 10-11-1 overall, 3-4 in district play.

Littlefield pitcher, Ethan Garcia, made quick work of Lamesa in the opening inning, as he got Dom Soliz to ground out to him on the mound for out number one. Aiden Vela drew a walk, but Garcia bounced back, as he got Christian Ruiz to strike out swinging for out number two. Zeke Vela hit a chopper towards third, but it was cut off by Garcia and thrown to first for the out to retire the side.

Jordan Trevino drew a lead-off walk in the home-half of the first inning, but Major McNeese hit a sacrifice chopper to Soliz at second base, who got the out at first for out number one. Jonavan Weaver popped up to Zeke Vela at first base for out number two and Nick Caballero was tagged out on a dropped third strike to end the inning.

Garcia went back to work on the mound in the top of the second inning, as he got Zeph Sifuentes to chop out to him on the mound for out number one. Luke Martinez struck out swinging for out number two, but Rogelio Vela singled on an error by Isaiah Rodriguez at second base to give the Golden Tornadoes a base runner. However, he would be stranded on base, as Moses Moreno grounded out to Rodriguez at second base to retire the side.

Chip Green and Ethan Garcia drew back-to-back walks in the bottom half of the second inning and Brendon Bowman hit a sacrifice chopper to Sifuentes at third base, who got the out at first, as the runners moved up 90-feet with one out. Rodriguez lined out to left field, but Green was able to tag-up and score on the throw to second that was dropped by Soliz, trying to get Garcia out, as the Wildcats took a, 1-0, lead.

Ian Mendez would strike out looking to end the inning.

Garcia got Gage Garcia and Soliz both to strike out looking to begin the top of the third inning, but Aiden Vela drew a walk to give Lamesa a base runner. He would again recover, as he got Ruiz to hit a chopper to the right side that was fielded by Ethan Garcia and flipped to first for the out to retire the side.

Trevino drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fourth, but he would be left on base, as McNeese hit a chopper to first for out number one, Weaver popped up to Soliz at second base and Cabellero lined out to Aiden Vela in left-center field to end the inning.

Lamesa would break through in the top of the fourth inning, as Zeke Vela drew a lead-off walk to start the inning. Sifuentes struck out looking for out number one, but Martinez ripped an RBI-triple over first into the right-field corner to tie the game, 1-1. Rogelio Vela hit a sacrifice fly to McNeese deep in center field, allowing Martinez to tag-up and score from third to give Lamesa the lead, 2-1, with two outs. Garcia would get Moreno to strike out swinging to end the inning.

The Wildcats were retired in order in the bottom of the fourth, but Ethan Garcia and the Wildcat defense were able to keep the Golden Tornadoes off the board in the top of the fifth.

Rodriguez beat out a slow roller to second base to give the Wildcats a base runner to begin the bottom of the fifth inning, and he took second on a pitch, before Mendez ripped an RBI-triple down the first-base line to tie the game, 2-2. Trevino followed it up with an RBI-single through the left side to make the score, 3-2, regain the lead for Littlefield.

Trevino took second on a pitch to McNeese, before McNeese hit a grounded to shortstop, reaching base on a fielder’s choice; they went home with the play, getting Trevino in a run down, but a throw into the dugout scored Trevino and put McNeese on third with the score, 4-2. Weaver kept the rally going, as he blasted an RBItriple into right-center field to extend their lead to, 5-2.

Rogelio Vela was relieved by Martinez on the mound, as he got Caballero to ground out to Ruiz at shortstop for out number one, as Weaver scored, making the score, 6-2. Green popped up to Zeke Vela at first for out number two and Garcia flew out to Aiden Vela in center field to end the inning.

Garcia gave up back-to-back walks to begin the sixth inning, before being relieved by McNeese on the mound. McNeese got Martinez to strike out looking for out number one, before giving up a walk to Rogelio Vela to load the bases. McNeese would come back with back-to-back punch outs to retire the side, leaving the bases loaded for Lamesa.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bowman struck out swinging and Rodriguez struck out looking to begin the inning, but Mendez beat out an infield single deep in the hole to Ruiz at shortstop and a balk put him on second base before Trevino ripped an RBI-triple into the right-center field gap to push their lead to, 7-2. McNeese drove an RBI-single through the left side to make the score, 8-2, and he took second on a pitch to Weaver, before Weaver hit an RBI-single through the right side to stretch the lead to, 9-2.

Caballero, though, would ground out to Soliz at second base to end the inning.

McNeese got Soliz to strike out looking to begin the seventh inning, before Aiden Vela singled off of the diving try by Mendez at third base. However, Ruiz would fly out to Garcia in center field and Zeke Vela would line out to Trevino at shortstop to end the game.

Garcia pitched five innings for the Wildcats, giving up two runs and seven walks, while earning six strikeouts. McNeese closed the game, going two innings for the Wildcats, earning four strikeouts, while giving up one walk.

The Wildcats hosted Brownfield on Friday to close out the regular season. Results were not available at press time.