WILDCATS WALK IT OFF IN EXTRAS AGAINST FALCONS

The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team won an extra-inning thriller over Bushland on Friday, 7-6, in nine innings.

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 5-7-1 overall heading into district play.

Kade Gavina singled to center field to open the game for Bushland and took second on a pitch, before Dawson Jaco struck out swinging for out number one. Gavina took third on a pitch, before Josh Bass drew a walk, putting runners on the corners for the Falcons. Bass was caught stealing by Ethan Garcia and was thrown out at second by Nick Caballero, as a run scored to make the score, 1-0, with two outs.

Cannon Melban doubled to right field, but Stratton Molloy flew out to Markus Rosales in right field to retire the side.

Jordan Trevino drew a lead-off walk to start the bottom half of the first for the Wildcats, and Major McNeese singled on an error by Jaco at second base to put two runners on for Littlefield. Jonavan Weaver drew a walk to load the bases, but Nick Caballero struck out swinging for out number one. Brenden Bowman hit a chopper to Melban at first, who got the force out at home for out number two, and Isaiah Rodriguez hit a slow roller to Bass on the mound, who got the out at home to end the inning, as the Wildcats left three on.

Westin Forbes drew a walk to begin the top of the second inning, and stole second on a pitch and took third on the same play, as the throw down to second by Bowman rolled into center field. Scot McClain hit a sacrifice grounder to Trevino at shortstop, who got the out at first, as the runner from third scored to stretch the lead to, 2-0, with one out.

Tanner Troxell struck out looking for out number two, but Ditto Nebhut singled up the middle, and Gavina drew a walk to put runners on first and second for the Falcons with two outs. The runners advanced on a wild pitch, but Garcia got Jaco to strike out swinging to retire the side.

Garcia was hit by a pitch to begin the bottom of the second for Littlefield, and Ian Mendez laid a bunt down the third-base line and was able to beat the throw to first, as Melban came off of the bag on the catch. But, the Wildcats would not cash in on the early base runners, as Rosales popped up to shortstop, Trevino popped up to Bass for an infield fly and McNeese struck out looking to end the inning.

Caballero relieved Garcia on the mound to begin the third inning for Littlefield, as he got Bass to line out to Jaron Cabello in left field for out number one. Melban drew a walk for Bushland, but Molloy hit into a fielder’s choice to Trevino at shortstop, who went the short way to second for the force out. Molloy took second on a wild pitch, before Forbes doubled to left field on the throw home from Cabello.

McClain drew a walk to load the bases and Molloy scored on a past ball to push their lead to, 3-0, as the other runners advanced on the play. Troxell hit a chopper to Mendez at third, who opted to tag the runner from second, but the run scored before the out, as Bushland extended their lead to, 4-0, as the side was retired.

In the bottom of the third inning, Weaver struck out looking for out number one, but Caballero drew a walk, as Brady Jones came on as the courtesy runner for the pitcher. Bowman also drew a walk, bringing on Tavion Ivery as the courtesy runner for the catcher with one out. Rodriguez singled through the left side to load the bases, and Garcia followed it up with a shot to right field for a two-RBI ground rule double to cut the lead in half, 4-2.

Mendez struck out swinging for out number two, but Rosales was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and Trevino followed it up with a poke into center field for a two-RBI double on the throw home from left field, tying the game, 4-4. McNeese grounded out to shortstop to end the inning, but not before the Wildcats got themselves back into the ballgame.

Nebhut singled on an error by Mendez at third base to open the third inning, but Gavina hit a slow roller to Rodriguez at second, who got the out at first for out number one. Nebhut took third on a ball in the dirt and Jaco knocked an RBIsingle into right field on a fly ball that was dropped by Rosales, making the score, 5-4.

Jaco took second on a past ball, but Bass popped up to Trevino in shallow left field and Melban struck out looking to retire the side.

Jaco relieved Bass on the mound for Bushland, as Weaver grounded out up the middle and Caballero struck out swinging for out number two. Bowman doubled over the right fielder, as Ivery came on as the courtesy runner, and Rodriguez followed it up with an RBI-double in the left-center field gap to tie the game, 5-5. Garcia would pop up to Gavina at second base to to end the inning.

Both teams went scoreless in the fifth inning, but in the top of the sixth, McNeese got Troxell to fly out to Garcia in center field for out number one. Nebhut singled on a dropped diving attempt by Cabello in left field on a line drive and Gavina followed it up with a double down the left-field line. Nebhut scored on a past ball to make the score, 6-5, but Gavina was thrown out at home by Mendez trying to score on a bad throw back to the pitcher by Bowman for out number two. McNeese got Jaco to strike out swinging to retire the side.

Both teams were kept quiet until the bottom of the seventh with the game on the line for Littlefield. Ivery and Trevino both struck out swinging for two quick outs, but McNeese laid down a swinging bunt and the new pitcher, Melban slipped on the play, allowing McNeese to reach base safely. McNeese took second on a pitch to Weaver, and took third on the next play, scoring on a bad throw down to third to tie the game, 6-6.

Caballero popped up to Melban behind the mound, as the game headed to extra innings.

Both teams were kept off the board in the eighth inning, and McNeese and the defense kept the Falcons quiet in the top of the ninth, with a chance to win it in the bottom half of the ninth inning.

Mendez was hit by a pitch and Rosales drew a walk, before Trevino hit a walk-off RBI-single under the glove of the third baseman, as the Wildcats walked it off, 7-6, over the Falcons.

Garcia pitched two innings to start the game for Littlefield, giving up two runs and three walks, while earning three strikeouts. Caballero pitched two innings in relief duty, giving up three runs and two walks, while earning one strikeout and McNeese pitched the final five innings, earning five punch outs, while giving up just one walk and one run.

The Wildcats opened district play on Tuesday with a road game against Denver City. Results were not available at press time. They will have a non-district doubleheader on Saturday with Kermit.

First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.