THS softball notches first district win

Tucumcari's softball team finally notched its first district win of the season Wednesday largely because its pitcher's bat.

Senior Juli Rivera hit a two-run homer over the left-field fence, helping fuel a nine-run rally in the fifth inning during a 21-20 victory over East Mountain.

The home run was the first over-the-fence dinger for the Lady Rattlers this season, though they've hit several inside-the-park homers.

Rivera, who also earned a complete-game pitching victory, also hit two doubles and drove in five runs.

Tucumcari coach CJ Oglesby said Rivera is a somewhat reluctant slugger.

"She's not the one who always wants to hit," he said. "She doesn't always want to practice her hitting. She wants someone to do (batting practice) for her. I tell her, 'Hey, we need a contact hitter up there.' She's an athlete. She does whatever is best for the team."

Harley McKinney also went 4-for-5 with two doubles and five RBI. Amaya Roybal went 2-for-5 with a double and four RBI.

The Lady Rattlers fell behind 16-12 after the Timberwolves scored four in the top of the fifth.

Tucumcari responded with four runs early in the bottom half of the fifth, including a two-run double by Roybal.

Tayden Hyslop reached base on an error, setting up Rivera's two-run blast to give her team an 18-16 lead.

The Lady Rattlers kept reaching base, and McKinney drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single. An outfielder's error cleared the bases for a 21-16 lead.

Tucumcari hung on despite allowing three runs in the sixth and one in the seventh. The Timberwolves had a runner on base when Chaeli Lehocky grounded out to first to end the game.

East Mountain hurt itself with 11 errors, leading to 16 unearned runs. Tucumcari committed seven errors, leading to 10 unearned runs.

Erratic play by his team often has frustrated Oglesby.

"We're a good team; we just gotta bring it all together. See the ball, hit the ball hard, practice hard," he said. "Sometimes it shows; sometimes it doesn't."

Oglesby also has noted his squad isn't at its best health-wise.

"Injuries are killing us. Everyone on field has some kind of injury or sickness," he said.

The injury bug afflicted senior first baseman Sierra Valverde, who leads the team in batting average (.509) and RBI (30). Oglesby said she first injured her knee during the West Las Vegas Tournament in March, and it's worsened. He took her out of the lineup Wednesday after one at-bat when it became apparent the sore knee was affecting her fielding.

In the second game of the doubleheader, the Lady Rattlers had no answer for East Mountain's Abby Moore during a 17-5 loss. Moore belted two home runs and a double, driving in a game-high seven runs.

For Tucumcari, Roybal and Lafferty each went 2-for-3 with an RBI each.

The Lady Rattlers' record stood at 10-13 overall and 1-8 in district play. Despite those unimpressive marks, Tucumcari remained ranked ninth in Class 3A and remains in good position to earn a berth later this week for the state playoffs.

Tucumcari has a week off before the playoff pairings are announced. Oglesby said he was hopeful that would give his team some healing time.

East Mountain improved to 16-10, 4-7.

Dexter 13, Tucumcari 3

Dexter 10, Tucumcari 0

The Lady Rattlers' slump in district play continued with a doubleheader loss last Tuesday at Dexter.

In the first game, the Lady Demons took control with a six-run fourth inning. The contest was shortened to five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Tucumcari managed just three hits. Alexis Ramirez, Valverde and Hyslop each drove in runs for the Lady Rattlers.

Dexter pounded 14 hits, including eight doubles. Tucumcari pitcher Rivera took the loss.

In the nightcap that also was shortened to five innings, Tucumcari totaled just two hits - one by Rivera and the other by Roybal.

Four Tucumcari errors led to six unearned runs for Rivera.

Dexter improved to 12-10 overall and 6-2 in district play.