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The Tucumcari Rattlers baseball team routed the Texico Wolverines and San Jon Coyotes to start their season with two in the win column.
The Rattlers beat the Coyotes 21-4 on Tuesday, just three days after beating Texico 18-7 to clinch first place in their tournament.
“The team did well,” said Rattlers head coach Tony Alarcon. “Our pitchers had to adjust quickly this week coming off their state basketball run.”
Jantzen Darnell, Dalton Wood and Jakus Martinez split time on the mound this weekend. The three Tucumcari Rattlers pitchers rotated throughout the tournament, with each throwing less then 50 pitches a game.
“We did better than we expected with just a week of practice,” Wood said. “It kept the opponent on their toes as they had a different pitcher to read.”
Martinez said the week before the tournament the three senior pitchers increased the number of pitches they threw during squad games and practice.
“Going from the mechanics of basketball to baseball in a week is a challenge,” Martinez said. “We played in some intersquad games with the JV to help us transition.”
Martinez said he and his fellow senior Rattlers are slowly getting their arm strength back. He expected he and his basketball teammates should be up to speed within a few weeks.
To start off the tournament, the Rattlers defeated the Questa Wildcats 9-4 on Friday. The Wildcats managed two runs in both the first and sixth innings.
On offense the Rattlers scored twice in the second inning, twice in the third, three times in the fourth and twice in the fifth inning.
The game was called in the bottom of the sixth inning due to tournament time regulations.
On Saturday the Rattlers defeated their district rival Santa Rosa Lions 9-2.
Next the Rattlers will compete in the Texico tournament. On Friday they will play Floyd at 11 a.m., and Portales at 2 p.m.
“We don’t take anyone lightly,” Martinez said. “We are going to play everyone with intensity.”
