Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari girls captured the consolation title at the West Las Vegas Softball Tournament with a 20-11 victory over Taos on Saturday.
The Lady Rattlers (3-3) won two of three during the tourney, with their only loss to eventual champ Santa Fe Indian School.
During the victory Saturday over Taos, the Lady Rattlers seized control of a once-close game with five runs in the fourth inning, five in the fifth and four in the sixth.
“The game was just an all-out team effort,” Tucumcari coach CJ Oglesby said. “Super-excited about today’s play.”
Haisley Huffman went 5-for-5 — with three triples and two doubles — and a team-high four RBI for Tucumcari. Oglesby also praised her defensive play in center field.
Sierra Valverde, Juli Rivera and Tayden Hyslop each drove in three runs. Tucumcari totaled 27 hits against the Tigers.
Rivera also earned the win, striking out four and walking one in seven innings.
Taos fell to 0-3.
Tucumcari 18, Tohatchi 6
The Lady Rattlers scored five runs in the first inning and led 13-1 after three during an 18-6 victory Friday in the consolation round of the West Las Vegas tourney.
Alexus Lafferty went 4-for-4 and scored four runs for the Lady Rattlers. Valverde drove in a team-high four runs, and Kylee Carmichael added three RBI.
Starting pitcher Rivera allowed just one earned run in 3 2/3 innings, and Harley McKinney pitched the two innings in relief.
Tohatchi finished the weekend with a 1-3 record.
Santa Fe Indian 10, Tucumcari 0
The Lady Rattlers had no answers against Braves ace Shade Phae Young during a 10-0 loss Thursday shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule in the first round of the West Las Vegas tourney.
Young pitched a no-hitter against the Lady Rattlers, striking out 10. She sported an 0.69 ERA last season.
Santa Fe Indian went on to win the tournament and remain undefeated this season with a 7-0 mark.
Santa Rosa 11, Tucumcari 6
The Lady Lions grabbed a 9-0 lead after two innings and prevailed 11-6 in a non-district win over Tucumcari on March 21.
Valverde hit a three-run double and drove in four runs for the Lady Rattlers. Angel Vasquez went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Tucumcari starting pitcher Rivera allowed eight earned runs in six innings, walked three and struck out six. The Lady Rattlers committed six errors.
Santa Rosa improved to 3-1.