Lack of clutch hitting hurts Lady Rattlers

Because of a lack of hitting in the bottom half of the order, a winnable district softball game for Tucumcari against Dexter was lost last Tuesday.

The Lady Rattlers left 10 runners on base during a 6-2 loss on April 26 against the Lady Demons, including the bases loaded once and runners on second and third in another inning.

The top half of the Tucumcari's batting order is robust, including shortstop Alexus Lafferty hitting more than .600 going into the doubleheader. But coach CJ Oglesby said his offense tails off sharply after that.

"All year, that's hurt us," he said. "We could have won against Raton; we put runners on in many situations. There was a game against Mora during the Santa Rosa tournament. The bottom of our lineup just can't get it going. The batters from five on down are just struggling with runners on base."

The Lady Demons opened the scoring in the third inning when two Tucumcari errors led to an unearned run.

Dexter fattened its lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning on four hits and a hit batter.

Tucumcari scored both its runs in the fifth when Harley McKinney walked and Lafferty doubled down the right field line. Sierra Valverde brought both home with a single up the middle.

Dexter added two insurance runs (one earned) in the top of the seventh. Tucumcari prevented more damage by turning a 1-3-2 double play with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Mireya Estrada was Tucumcari's hard-luck loser, allowing four earned runs, six hits, one walk, one hit batter and striking out five.

"They fought hard; many of them are going home with bruises," Oglesby said of his young team. "They stayed in the game and battled. The team is growing."

Emily Salas earned the win for Dexter. She allowed six hits, three walks, one hit batter and struck out eight.

Dispirited by the loss, the Lady Rattlers fell behind quickly during the nightcap and lost 18-3 in a game shortened by the mercy rule.

"They just got down on themselves; it happens," Oglesby said.

Estrada also started in the pitching circle in the second game but was taken out early in the fourth after showing signs of weariness and with her team trailing 10-3.

"She was upset; she puts a lot of pressure on herself with wanting to win that big game," he said. "She was getting everybody else down, so I made the change."

Reliever McKinney wasn't able to stem the bleeding, allowing eight more runs.

"I had confidence in Harley, but she hasn't pitched all year," he said. "What can you expect?"

Tucumcari ended its district schedule winless at 0-6.

Dexter's Zoey Stewart earned the win in the second game. She allowed four hits, walked four, hit two batters and struck out four.

Dexter improved to 10-11 overall and 4-0 in district play to stay in first place. The Lady Demons split a doubleheader Saturday against East Mountain to capture the district title with a 5-1 mark. East Mountain finished 4-2 in district play.

"They're well disciplined and hit the ball well all the time," Oglesby said of Dexter. "They have a full-time pitching coach. They're just a good program."

Tucumcari 21, Estancia 6

Tucumcari 18, Estancia 7

The Lady Rattlers rose back over the .500 mark on the season with a non-district doubleheader sweep Saturday against visiting Estancia.

Lafferty went 8-for-9 hitting with six RBI during the twinbill. Valverde went 7-for-8 with five RBI, and Haisley Huffman went 8-for-9 with three walks and three RBI.

Tucumcari pitcher earned both wins, with six strikeouts in seven innings.

Tucumcari improved to 11-10 overall.

It also was Senior Night for the Lady Rattlers for twins Izabela and Illiana Reid.

Izabela went 5-for-8 hitting and "had a big deal in the outfield with some nice running catches," Oglesby said.

Illiana went 7-for-8 hitting.

Estancia fell to 3-15.

Tucumcari 20, Clayton 0

Tucumcari 17, Clayton 0

The Lady Rattlers swept a non-district doubleheader April 25 at Clayton by scores of 20-0 and 17-0, with both games shortened by the mercy rule.

Lafferty was the hitting star, totaling 11 RBI and three home runs and a double during the twinbill.

Estrada earned the victories in both games, allowing just one hit in a total of seven innings.

Clayton fell to 3-13 overall.