THS softball team still looking for district win

Tucumcari's softball team swept a doubleheader last week against Clayton but still was searching for its first district victory of the season after losses to Dexter and Ruidoso.

Host Ruidoso conquered the Lady Rattlers 18-8 and 16-6 on Saturday. The Warriors, ranked fourth in Class 3A by MaxPreps.com, improved to 14-5 overall and took control of their district with a 7-0 mark. Dexter is in a distant second in their district at 3-2.

Tucumcari fell to 8-7, 0-4.

"We just couldn't keep up with their hitting," Tucumcari coach CJ Oglesby said. "Ruidoso is just a solid team."

In the first game, Ruidoso jumped to a 9-0 lead in the first inning.

Tucumcari totaled only four hits off Warriors pitcher Destiny Luevano. Alexus Lafferty went 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Lady Rattlers, and Amaya Roybal also went 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs scored.

Tucumcari hurt its cause with eight errors. Only five of the 16 runs allowed by pitcher Juli Rivera were earned.

In the second game, the turning point was a seven-run fourth inning by the Warriors. Tucumcari trailed only 8-5 going into that inning.

The Lady Rattlers managed just six hits off pitcher Rylee Holder. Kylee Carmichael and Tayden Hyslop each drove in two runs for Tucumcari.

Dexter 12, Tucumcari 5

The Dexter Demons broke a 2-2 tie by scoring 10 runs in the final three innings during a 12-5 district victory Thursday at Tucumcari.

The Lady Rattlers totaled seven fielding miscues during the game, with six by third baseman Harley McKinney. Only one of the 12 runs that Tucumcari starting pitcher Rivera allowed was earned.

"We were solid all game until the fifth," Oglesby said. "After that first error happened, (McKinney) got down on herself, and we all know when you get down on yourself, it only gets worse, and it did."

The Lady Rattlers' loss spoiled another good game by shortstop Lafferty, who went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a home run and three RBI.

Haisley Huffman went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored for Tucumcari.

Tucumcari batters struck out 13 times against Dexter pitching and totaled just six hits.

"The lower half of the order struggled again to hit the ball," Oglesby said. "We can't win games with four girls hitting the ball."

Dexter improved to 6-10, 2-2.

Tucumcari 16, Clayton 14

Tucumcari 10, Clayton 2

The Lady Rattlers swept a non-district doubleheader last Tuesday against visiting Clayton, including a come-from-behind victory in the opener.

Senior first baseman Sierra Valverde was the hitting star in both games, going a combined 7-for-7 with five doubles and six RBI. She reached base two more times after being hit by pitches.

"We've really worked on her swing, leveled it out," Oglesby said. "She's no longer having to stride a foot and half to go to swing. She throws her hands back and hits. It's really helping her."

Huffman also combined for six RBI and seven runs scored during the doubleheader.

Lafferty made her presence felt on both sides of the diamond. She went a combined 6-for-9 at the plate with a double and an inside-the-park home run. She made a run-saving defensive stop deep in the hole during the first game and started a critical double play in the nightcap.

"She's just a great athlete," Oglesby said.

Rivera earned the win in both games - one as a starter and the other in relief. She allowed three earned runs in a total of 9 1/3 innings.

In the first game, Tucumcari fell behind 5-0 when starting pitcher Alexis Ramirez struggled with her control.

The Lady Rattlers rallied for three runs in the first and nine in the third for a 12-5 lead.

The Yellowjackets rallied for eight runs in the fifth on six walks, a hit batter, two hits and two errors to take a 14-12 lead.

Oglesby said his team wasn't mentally sharp in that game.

"When we play these 1A and 2A schools, we fall to their level," he said. "As a coach, it's a little agitating."

Tucumcari scored four runs in the sixth inning, with the key blow a two-run single by Valverde to put her team ahead for good.

Rivera then retired the side in order in the top of the seventh.

In the second game, the Lady Rattlers seized control in the fourth with successive RBI hits by Lafferty, Huffman and Valverde to take a 7-1 lead. The trio also combined for two more runs in the sixth.

Clayton fell to 3-4.