Rattlers double up against Lions

The Tucumcari Rattlers baseball could set its own path to hosting a first round state game if it can sweep the Santa Rosa Lions Friday during a District 5-3A double header.

The Rattlers (5-9, 2-4) will start a double header at 4 p.m., Friday against the Lions (16-6, 4-2) at Tucumcari.

"We need to stay focused and communicate on the field," said Josh Walker, Rattlers pitcher.

Walker said a lack of communication in the past games has led to extended innings. He said mental errors kept the inning going for the opponents.

The Rattlers lost 21-0 on Saturday to the defending 3A state champion Texico Wolverines at Tucumcari.

"We didn't have a full roster again, that put us in a pitching bind from the very start," said coach Dwayne Roberts.

Roberts said he would once again be without starters during Tuesday's District 5-3A game at Clayton. He said members of his team are on the golf team and have a competition at Lovington.

"If we could get our starters on the field all at once, it would be a whole different story," Roberts said. "The younger players have stepped up in their absence, but it would be good to have my starting roster on the field for an entire game."

The results of Tuesday's game were not available before publication.

"We need to back each other up on the field and limit our defensive errors," said Mark Padilla, Rattlers catcher.

Padilla said the next games are crucial in setting up the post season run for the Rattlers. He said today's make up innings against Melrose and Friday's double header against the Lions give the team a chance to work out the kinks in their system.

"We have to believe in each other," Padilla said. "If we play to our ability we can be a hard team to beat."

Upcoming match ups

• The Grady/San Jon Coyotes (6-8, 6-8) will play at 4 p.m., today, against the Dora Coyotes (9-3, 9-3) at Grady.

• On Friday the Coyotes will play a double header starting at noon at Floyd.

• The Logan Longhorns (1-14, 1-14) will play at 3 p.m., Monday against the defending 2A state champion Buffaloes at Melrose.

Back to basics for Lady Rattlers

The Tucumcari Lady Rattlers softball team can use the next games to build on as they prepare to play their last district games of the regular season, said Donnie Garcia, Lady Rattlers head coach.

"We are going back to the basics for these next two games," Garcia said. "We had 10 errors against Santa Rosa on Thursday, that is 10 too many."

The Lady Rattlers (6-7, 4-4) will have to make the adjustments they need on the road for the remainder of the season. On Friday the Lady Rattlers have a double header at 3 p.m., at Mora.

"We need to communicate, we have to believe in each other," said Jasmine Jones, Lady Rattlers left fielder.

Jones said in their last loss, 15-6 at home to Santa Rosa on Thursday, the team did not communicate and got down in spirits when they made errors and began to fall behind.

"We can't fall apart like that, we have to support one another and push through," Jones said.

Garcia said when the girls play as a team and play to their ability they are a hard team to overcome. He said in the past the girls have shown they have what it takes to rally back for a late-inning comeback win.

"These girls have the heart, they have the skill to win, I know I have seen it since the start of the season," Garcia said.

The Lady Rattlers have two district matches remaining, Monday at home against the Lady Lions (12-6, 3-4) at Santa Rosa and Tuesday against the Lady Bears (15-8, 5-3) at Estancia.

Upcoming games

• The Logan Lady Longhorns (3-6, 0-4) will play a double header starting at 2 p.m,. Friday against the Lady Hawks (15-5, 8-0) at Laguna Acoma.

• On Monday the Lady Longhorns will play at 4 p.m., against the Dora Lady Coyotes (5-8, 2-6) at Logan.