Rattlers lose opener to Santa Rosa

Despite a hard District 5-3A opener loss to the Santa Rosa Lions on Saturday, the Tucumcari Rattlers are on the right track as their season heats up, said Dwayne Roberts, head coach.

Roberts said the score might not reflect it, but there were a lot of positives that came out of Saturday's game against Santa Rosa. He said as there will be a real need for strong team play by the Rattlers as they start their district run.

"There are no easy games in our district; each game is going to be a battle as we move toward state competition," Roberts said.

Roberts said one issue the team will have to contend with is the pitch count rule. He said with nine games in 18 days, it is going to take careful planning to prevent the Rattlers pitching starters, Josh Walker and Zach Martinez, from passing the 90-pitch count and having to sit out four days.

"This is a great chance for our younger pitchers to get some mound time and experience," Walker said.

Walker said the younger pitchers need to get some mound time and develop their skill as the team progresses through this season and for next season. He said the team will be without Martinez and while they prepare for that, they also need to be sure that in the event one of the starters has to sit out, the relief pitcher is ready to step onto the mound.

The Rattlers will have a challenge on Saturday with a double header against the 13-1, 2-0 Texico Wolverines at Tucumcari.

Game time: 1 p.m. at Tucumcari

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The Lady Rattlers 4-5, 1-3 lost 13-2 Saturday against Raton in their fourth District 5/6-3A game.

"We just need to finish our games," said Donnie Garcia, Lady Rattlers head coach.

Garcia said the Lady Rattlers' offense has shown they are capable of putting runs on the board; it's their defense that needs to be stronger. He said errors have hurt the Lady Rattlers in the late inning of their past three games.

"It's nothing that the team cannot correct," Garcia said. "It's just a matter of playing sound fundamental softball late in the game."

Garcia said the Lady Rattlers have to play focused on defense throughout the complete game. He said lapses in judgment result in errors leading to runs and opportunities for the other team.

"We are hurting ourselves more than the other team is outplaying us," Garcia said.

He said the team has two district games in the next week, starting with Logan on Friday and Clayton on Tuesday. He said these two matches will be a building point for the Lady Rattlers as they work to advance to the state tournament.

Game time: 3 p.m. Friday at Tucumcari.

Area high school baseball action

The Logan Longhorns 0-9, 0-8

April 7

Lost 20-1 vs Dora

Lost 11-6 vs Dora

Grady/San Jon 4-3-1

April 7

Won 11-0 vs Elida

Won 15-3 vs Elida

Area high school softball action

Logan Lady Longhorns 2-2, 0-2