The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team rallied back for a, 7-6, walk-off win over the Lamesa Golden Tornadoes at Wildcat Field on Saturday.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 3-0 in district play.
Cam Diaz hit a chopper to Chris Brown on the mound, who got the out at first for out number one in the top of the first inning, but Dylan Lozano reached base safely on a slow roller to third and Christian Ruiz drew a walk to put runners on first and second for Lamesa.
Noah Vera hit a sacrifice chopper to Blake Green at first to advance the runners with two outs, before Joshua Marquez knocked a two-RBI double up the middle on the throw home from center field by Ethan Garcia that got past Gus McNabb at the plate, making the score, 2-0. Nick Casillas lined out to Jordan Trevino at shortstop to retire the side.
Both teams were kept off the board through the next inning and a half, but in the top of the third inning, Ruiz singled to right field to lead off the inning and took second on a pitch, before Vera struck out swinging and was thrown out at first on a dropped third strike by McNabb. Ruiz advanced to third on the play with one out.
Marquez hit an RBI single over Jeremiah Salazar at second base to extend their lead to, 3-0, but the Wildcats would get out of the inning as Brown fielded a bunt laid down by Casillas, getting the out at first, Green fired back across the diamond to Hackler at third to get Marquez for the double play to retire the side.
Turner Heffington drew a leadoff walk and Jaron Cabello laid a sacrifice bunt down the third-base line; he was thrown out at first, as Heffington advanced to third on the play with one out. Trevino drew a walk, and took second on a pitch, but Rudy Campos faked a throw to second before picking off Heffington at third for out number two. Green Popped up to Diaz in front of first to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, Campos grounded out to Trevino at shortstop for out number one, but JP Rodriguez drew a walk and Nate Garcia singled past Brown. The runners advanced on a past ball, before Diaz ripped a two-RBI double up the middle to extend their lead to, 5-0. Diaz took third on a bad pick-off to second by Brown, before Lozano struck out swinging for out number two.
Diaz tried to steal home, but was tagged out at the plate by Brown to retire the side.
The Wildcats found some offense in the bottom of the fourth inning, as Hackler singled up the middle to lead things off and Brown singled under the glove of Lozano at third to put two runners on for Littlefield. McNabb was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Garcia ripped a two-RBI single into right-center field to get the Wildcats on the board cutting the lead to, 5- 2.
Jonavan Weaver struck out swinging for out number one, and Heffington grounded into a fielder’s choice to Diaz at shortstop, who got the force at third for out number two. Cabello flew out to left field to end the inning.
Lamesa added a run in the top of the fifth inning, and in the bottom half of the side, Trevino drew a walk to lead things off for the Wildcats. Green struck out swinging, as Trevino got into a rundown between first and second and eventually got to second on a throw into left-center field by Vera.
Hackler hit an RBI-single into left field on a bobble by Rodriguez to cut the lead to, 6- 3. Hackler took second and third on past balls, before Brown drew a walk to put runners on the corners for Littlefield. McNabb lined out to Diaz at shortstop, but made a bad throw to first trying to double up Brown, allowing Hackler to score, making the score, 6-4. Garcia popped up to Marquez at second to end the inning, as the Wildcats continued to inch closer to the lead.
Brown gave up one walk in the top of the sixth, but the Littlefield defense kept the Golden Tornadoes off the board, as they headed into the bottom half of the side.
Marquez relieved Ruiz on the mound, as Weaver drew a walk and Heffington singled under the glove of Lozano at third. Cabello singled on a shallow single to center field, but Heffington was thrown out at second for out number one. Cabello took second on a pitch, before Trevino struck out swinging for out number two.
Hackler hit a two-RBI single on a chopper to Diaz at shortstop, but the throw to first was dropped by Vera, tying the game, 6-6. Brown struck out swinging for out number three, but the Wildcats had new life heading into the seventh inning.
Brown gave up a lead off single to Lozano in the top of the seventh, but he got Ruiz to fly out to Cabello in right field for out number one. Vera drew a walk, but Brown got Marquez and Casillas both struck out swinging to retire the side.
McNabb was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom half of the side, as Davin Saldana came on as the courtesy runner for the catcher. Saldana took second on a ball in the dirt and Garcia singled on an error by Lozano at second base, as Saldana advanced to third on the play. Weaver struck out looking for out number one and Heffington struck out swinging for out number two.
Cabello hit an RBI walk-off single over a diving Diaz behind second base, as the Wildcats took the first meeting of the season with Lamesa, 7-6.
Brown pitched a complete game for the Wildcats earning eight strikeouts, while giving up four walks and six runs.
The Wildcats hosted Brownfield on Tuesday to close out the first half of district play. Results were not available at press time. They will start the second half of district play on Saturday with a road game at Denver City.
First pitch is scheduled for noon.