Rattlers prep to face Logan

The Tucumcari Rattlers baseball team has to come up with some district wins to have a chance at state competition, but first need to have all their starting players in the lineup, said Head Coach Dwayne Roberts.

Roberts said the Rattlers (3-8, 0-3) have had issues with scheduling in the past week that has resulted in starting members missing games. He said at one point his line up had seven varsity players, only two were starters.

"We have to have our starters on the field," Roberts said. "We are in the thick of the season, every win will be crucial to our post season push."

The Rattlers dropped a pair of District 5-3A games (25-0, 26-0) on Saturday at Texico. The Rattlers managed one hit against the defending 3A champ Wolverines, who put their first nine batters on base before recording an out in a nine-run first. Vicente Sepulveda helped squelch the inning with an unassisted double play at third base.

Roberts said it is crucial for the Rattlers to have their starting lineup on the field for the remaining district games.

"Our younger players have done a great job of stepping up," Roberts said. "However, we need our starters play a complete game."

The Rattlers played a double header against district opponent the Clayton Yellowjackets on Tuesday. Results of the games were not available before publication.

Roberts said the Rattlers next district game is on Saturday against the Wolverines at Tucumcari.

"We have the athletes to compete against Texico; we just need them to be on the field," Roberts said.