Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari baseball team swept a doubleheader Friday from visiting Clayton, including a come-from-behind 8-7 victory in the second game.
The Rattlers, taking advantage of a nine-run first inning, prevailed 12-2 in five innings over the Yellowjackets in the opener.
Josh Griego hit two triples and drove in a game-high four runs for the Rattlers. Xzander Garcia totaled three RBI.
Griego also excelled on the mound, striking out 11, walking two and allowing five hits to earn the win.
In the nightcap, Tucumcari trailed 7-4 in the bottom of the final inning. The Rattlers responded with four runs, including Luis Archuleta’s game-winning RBI hit to the right-centerfield gap at Logan’s field, which is being used by Tucumcari this season while its new diamond is under construction.
“It was a fun celebration, with water flying everywhere,” Tucumcari coach George Montano said of the comeback win. “”The Rattler fans made the trip out and made noise (especially the Lady Rattler softball girls). It was a good night to be a Rattler.
“Offensively, we hit the ball well; defensively we played solid,” he added. “Clayton got their fair share of hits, and we expected it.”
Kamren Apodaca drove in two runs and earned the victory on the mound, striking out 13 batters and walking six in seven innings.
Tucumcari improved to 3-2 overall and surpassed the number of victories it totaled last season.
“Been awhile since this program has swept a series, so it’s nice to get it done,” Montano said. “We have a great group, and we’re hopefully only donna straighten out and get better as we get into district play, which is right around the corner.”
Clayton fell to 0-4.
Santa Rosa 21, Tucumcari 6
Host Santa Rosa grabbed a 6-0 first-inning lead and cruised to a 21-6 victory in five innings over Tucumcari on March 14.
The Rattlers accounted for their runs with three in the second and three in the fourth. Griego went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, and Apodaca drove in a run. Garcia scored two runs.
Montano said his team left 14 runners on base, including three innings with the bases loaded.
“We just gotta capitalize on innings like that,” he said.
Tucumcari starting pitcher Nick Romero allowed 11 hits, walked none and struck out three in four innings. Oscar Angel threw one inning in relief.
Tucumcari pitching was hampered by seven errors.
“They scored six off of errors,” Montano said. “Take away our six and give or take us with the 14 (Santa Rosa scored) and the ballgame is ours.
“We’ve minimized the errors a lot from the past few years, but they’re still doing to happen, and we just have to let it go and go on to that next play.”
Montano said Romero is recovering from a shoulder injury suffered during wrestling season. He said the coaching staff is “making sure we don’t push him so much that injury doesn’t come creeping back on him.”
“Oscar Angel came in and threw well after Nick. We have a lot of faith in Oscar; he comes in and cleans up messes and does a fairly good job at it.”
The Lions rapped 16 hits, including a home run and five RBI by Joshua Cordova.