WILDCATS WIN GAME TWO OVER PRESIDIO, 2-0

The Littlefield Wildcats’ varsity baseball team bounced back on Saturday to take game two over the Presidio Blue Devils, 2-0, to force a decisive game three in Pecos to determine the 3A Bi-district championship.

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 13-12-1 overall on the season.

Alfonso Ramos got the Blue Devils going in the top of the first inning, as he doubled to short center field, but Jorge Sotello laid down a slash bunt that bounced over a charging Nick Caballero at first, but Isaiah Rodriguez was there for the back-up, as he stepped on first for out number one. Major McNeese got Sebastian Rios to strike out swinging for out number two and Santiago Ornelas flew out to Chip Green in right field to retire the side.

Jordan Trevino was hit by a pitch to open the home-half of the first inning and McNeese drew a walk to put two runners on for the Wildcats. Jonavan Weaver hit a sacrifice fly to move the runners up 90-feet and Caballero followed it up with an RBI-single to left-center field to put Littlefield in front, 1-0. Green lined out to Ramos at shortstop for out number two and Ethan Garcia struck out swinging to end the inning for the Wildcats.

McNeese got two quick out on the Blue Devils to begin the second inning, before Juan Dominguez singled on an error by Rodriguez in shallow center field to give Presidio a base runner. Dominguez would steal on the pitch, just beating a throw down from Brenden Bowman, but Moreno would strike out swinging to retire the side.

In the bottom of the second, Rodriguez flew out to Ontiveros in center field and Bowman struck out swinging for out number two. Ian Mendez laid a swinging bunt down the third-base line that was fielded by the pitcher, Hernandez, and thrown to first, but it was not in time, giving the Wildcats a base runner. He would be left on base, as Trevino flew out to third base in foul territory to end the inning.

Ontiveros hit a shot to third that was stopped on a dive by Mendez, but he was unable to make the play at first, giving Presidio a runner in the top of the third. Ramos drew a walk and Sotello hit a slash bunt to Trevino at shortstop, who tried to take it himself at second, but was late to the bag, however he was able to recover on the play, firing the ball home for an out, as Ramos advanced to third on the play with one out.

McNeese got Rios to strike out swinging for out number two and Ornelas grounded out to Trevino at shortstop to retire the side.

Christopher Spencer relieved Hernandez on the mound for Presidio in the bottom of the third, as he got McNeese to ground out to second base and got Weaver to fly out to center field for out number two. Caballero singled to left field and he took second on a ball in the dirt, before Green singled past second to put runners on the corners for Littlefield. Green took second on the first pitch to Garcia, before Garcia drew a walk to load the bases for the Wildcats. Littlefield would leave the bases juiced, as Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

McNeese got a quick out in the top of the fourth inning, as Hernandez flew out to Green in right field for out number one, but Aguilar singled to right-center field, however, the one out threat would not come to pass, as Dominguez grounded into a double play as Trevino fielded the ball stepping on second and firing to first to retire the side.

McNeese got Moreno to strike out swinging to begin the fifth inning, but Ontiveros singled on an error by Caballero at first base and Ramos singled on a diving attempt in left-center field by Jaron Cabello to put two runners on for Presidio. Sotello flew out to Garcia in center field, as Ontiveros tagged up and advanced to third to put runners on the corners for the Blue Devils. The runners would be stranded, as Rios flew out to Garcia in leftcenter field to retire the side.

Orneals reached on an infield single to Rodriguez at second base to open the top of the sixth and Hernandez singled through the left side, but Aguilar hit a line drive to third that was caught on the dive by Mendez, who jumped up and fired to second for the double play. Aguilar would be picked off at second by Bowman to retire the side.

The Blue Devils were kept at bay in the top of the sixth, and in the bottom half of the inning, Green flew out to left-center field for out number one. Garcia popped up to the shortstop, who lost the ball in the sun, as Garcia took an extra base on the play. Rodriguez hit a sacrifice grounder to second base, who got the out at first, as Garcia advanced to third with two outs. Garcia would score on a past ball to make the score, 2-0, before Bowman grounded out to the shortstop to end the inning.

The Wildcat defense kept the Blue Devils quiet in the top of the seventh, as they took game two of the Bi-district series, 2-0, to force a game three.

McNeese pitched a complete game shutout, giving up one walk, while earning seven strikeouts.