THS softball runner-up at Santa Rosa Invite

Tucumcari’s fielding errors proved costly during a 19-13 softball loss Saturday to Estancia in the championship game of the Santa Rosa Invitational.

The Lady Rattlers committed five errors against the Lady Bears, leading to five unearned runs for Tucumcari starting pitcher Juli Rivera.

Rivera struck out seven, walked one and allowed 10 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings.

“Juli’s a gamer … that competitive attitude you love in a player,” Tucumcari coach CJ Oglesby said. “She also hit the ball really well for hardly getting any batting practice.”

The Lady Rattlers erupted for seven runs in the final inning, but it wasn’t enough.

Haisley Huffman, Alexus Lafferty and Sierra Valverde each drove in two runs for Tucumcari, including an inside-the-park home run by Lafferty.

Tucumcari fell to 2-1 overall. Estancia improved to 3-1.

Tucumcari 15, Mesilla Valley Christian 2

The Lady Rattlers opened their season with a bang, defeating Mesilla Valley 15-2 in the first round Thursday of the Santa Rosa Invitational.

Tucumcari starter Rivera allowed two runs (one earned) in the first inning, then shut them out through six.

The Lady Rattlers saw a several hitters have big days. Amaya Roybal went 4-for-4 hitting with two triples and a double, Lafferty went 3-for-4 with a double, Valverde went 4-for-4 with two doubles, and Angel Vasquez went 3-for-4.

Mesilla Valley fell to 1-1.

Tucumcari 1, Mora 0 (forfeit)

Mora was snowed in and didn’t make the trip Friday to play the Lady Rattlers in the semifinal of the tournament, giving Tucumcari a forfeit victory.