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SLAPPING DOWN THE TAG – Littlefield shortstop, Isaiah Rodriguez slaps down a tag on the Hereford base runner, who was trying to steal second, but was picked off my Major McNeese on the mound, during the top of the first inning of the Wildcat’s victory over Hereford at the Babe Ruth State Tournament on Thursday. (Staff Photo by Derek Lopez) -
BAT ON THE BALL– Littlefield’s Adam McDonald lays down a hit, during the Wildcat’s victory over Hereford at the Babe Ruth State Tournament on Thursday. (Staff Photo by Derek Lopez)
The Littlefield Wildcats’ Babe Ruth All-Star Team won their Tournament-Opener at the State tournament on Thursday evening, with a, 4-2, over Hereford.
The Wildcat defense kept Hereford quiet in the top of the first inning, as Major McNeese got the lead-off man, Erick to strike out swinging for out number one. Kenneth got the Whitefaces on the bases with a single to shallow right-center field, but he was picked off on the bases by McNeese who threw to Adam McDonald at first, who then fired to second, where Isaiah Rodriguez slapped the tag on Erick for out number two.
McNeese got Ayden to ground out to Rodriguez at shortstop to retire the side.
In the home-half of the first, Markus Rosales singled to right-center field, but Rodriguez struck out swinging for out number one. McNeese and Ian Mendez drew back-to-back walks for the Wildcats and Chip Green followed it up with a chopper to Kenneth on the mound, who got the force out at second for out number two, scoring Rosales from third to put the Wildcats up, 1-0. Gabe Villanueva, though, would ground out to second base to end the inning, as Littlefield left the bases loaded.
The Littlefield defense recorded two quick outs in the top of the second inning, as McNeese got Kayden to pop up to Jacob Kirkland at third base for out number one and he got Chris to strike out looking for out number two. Izack hit a short hopper to Dawson Adkins at second base, and was able to beat the throw to first to give Hereford a base runner. However, Aron would chop out to Rodriguez at shortstop to retire the side.
McDonald hit a high fly ball to right field and reached base on an error by the center fielder to begin the bottom half of the second inning. Kirkland singled to left-center field, but Adkins and Rosales both struck out swinging and Rodriguez lined out to second base to end the inning.
McNeese got Zayne to strike out looking to begin the third inning, but Asariah singled on an error by Adkins at second base to give Hereford a base runner. Erick struck out lookin for out number two, after Asariah stole second on a pitch. Kenneth singled on an error by McDonald at first, moving Asariah over to third, but on the next play, Ayden hit a shot to first that was gloved by McDonald, who stepped on the bag at first to retire the side.
McNeese led off the bottom half of the third with a triple over the left fielder, but Mendez followed it up with a fly out to left field for out number one. Green hit a sacrifice grounder to Kayden at shortstop, who got the out at first as McNeese scored to extend their lead to, 2-0. Villanueva would chop out to Kenneth on the mound to end the inning.
Hereford broke through in the top of the fourth inning, as Kayden led things off with a stand-up triple in the left-center field gap. Chris hit a sacrifice grounder to Rodriguez at shortstop, who got the out at first, as Kayden scored from third to cut the lead in half, making it, 2-1. Izack singled on an error by Adkins up the middle, but on the next play, Aron hit into a fielder-choice to Adkins at second, who flipped it to Rodriguez on second base for the force out for out number two.
Zayne drew a walk, and Asariah ripped an RBI-single to right-center field, taking second on the throw in from the outfield, making the score, 2-2.
The Wildcats went three-up-and-three down in the homehalf of the fourth and in the top of the fifth, McNeese got the lead-off man, Kenneth to strike out swinging for out number one. Ayden singled up the middle on a ball that was kept on the infield by Redman. Ayden stole second on a past ball, but Kayden grounded out to Kirkman at third base, as Ayden advanced to third on the play with two outs.
McNeese was relieved on the mound by Green, who got Chris to ground out to Kirkman at third to retire the side.
Rosales and Rodriguez popped both popped up to Chris at third to begin the fifth inning, but McNeese singled over second base and Mendez singled down the third-base line, before Green walked to load the bases.
Villanueva was hit by a pitch to bring in a run, making the score, 3-2, but McDonald struck out looking to end the inning, as the Wildcats left the bases loaded again.
Green went back to work on the mound in the top of the sixth inning, as he got Izack to ground out to Redman at second base for out number one and got Aron to strike out swinging for out number two. Zayne drew a walk, but he was picked off at second base by Mendez to retire the side.
Kirkland got the Wildcats on the bases, beating out a throw to first from the shortstop and Gabe Mata singled under the glove of Chris at third, as Ja’Den Williams came on as the pinch runner for Kirkland at second base.
Kenneth was relieved on the mound by Ayden, as he got Rosales to strike out looking for out number one. Rodriguez popped up to first base, but on a heads-up play, Williams was able to tag up and steal third on the play. McNeese drew a walk to load the bases and Williams scored on a past ball, as McNeese and Mata moved up 90-feet with the score now, 4-2. Mendez drew a walk to re-load the bases, but Green hit a one-hopper to Kayden at shortstop, who stepped on second for the force out to end the inning.
Green slammed the door on Hereford in the top of the seventh, as the Wildcats took the contest, 4-2.
McNeese pitched 4.2 innings, giving up two runs and one walk, while earning five punch outs. Green closed the game, pitching 2.1 innings giving up two walks, while earning three strikeouts.
They played Andrews on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Semi-Finals. Results were not available at press time.