Lady Rattlers fall twice in doubleheader

The Tucumcari softball team was much less experienced on the field than West Las Vegas, and it showed during 18-0 and 30-0 losses during the Lady Rattlers' season-opening doubleheader May 4.

The Lady Rattlers had other disadvantages, as well. Four players were sidelined for 10 days by a COVID-19 quarantine, and two others remained out until Friday due to another quarantine. Pandemic restrictions also prevented players taking part in many offseason programs.

Tucumcari coach CJ Oglesby said other players had little to no practice until recently because they were participating in basketball and cheerleading.

Meanwhile, Lady Dons also are young, but their strong fundamentals showed the benefits of playing a lot of offseason ball.

"They play summer ball all year around, all winter," Oglesby said. "They have a lot more opportunities and resources in Las Vegas, and they're a bigger school than we are. It's a reality check for these girls. I tried to explain how good this team was going to be. Even losing five or six seniors, you can tell how good they are."

He also pointed out one of West Las Vegas' top starting pitchers wasn't on the field because she still was playing basketball.

Oglesby was asked what he told his team after the Lady Dons swept the twinbill via the mercy rule.

"Not to get down on themselves," he replied. "All in all, this is the first time these girls have been on the field, even together. Almost none of these girls have been on a varsity team at all. The girls just lack experience. We'll work through it. I just told them to stay positive. Once we got going and practicing together, it's going to start falling into place.

"The good thing is these girls all care about each other. They want to win, try their butts off. I told them, 'Don't give up. We're all in this together. I got their back.'"

Leadoff hitter Sage Knapp wound up being the top offensive performer for Tucumcari, getting on base three times during the doubleheader with two singles and a walk.

In the first game, Tucumcari starting pitcher Alexis Ramirez struggled with her control, issuing seven walks and hitting two batters in four innings. Tucumcari also committed five errors.

Her counterpart, Azlynn Valdez, struck out 10 and walked three. She allowed just one hit, by Knapp, who twice was in scoring position but advanced no further.

Felicity Lopez, also a starting left fielder and one of two seniors on the Tucumcari squad, pitched the second game. She was more successful in finding the strike zone, and West Las Vegas was more successful in hitting in it. The Lady Dons totaled 29 hits during the game, including four home runs. West Las Vegas sent 21 batters to the plate in the second inning and scored 18 runs.

Tucumcari's scheduled game at home Saturday against Raton was canceled because a number of Tigers players were under a COVID-19 quarantine.