Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari girls softball team dropped a close district doubleheader at home Saturday against Dexter by scores of 11-9 and 9-8.
During the 11-9 loss, Harley McKinney smacked three doubles, scored three runs and drove in another. Alexis Ramirez and Caylee Benavides each drove in two runs.
Tucumcari pitcher Mia Estrada allowed 13 hits and two walks while striking out six in seven innings.
“We had them,” Tucumcari coach CJ Oglesby said. “We committed a couple of errors early in the game. Dexter scored just four earned runs.”
Despite the losses, Oglesby said they were “the best two games I have ever seen these ladies play. Dexter has the best pitchers, and we went out and competed.”
He said centerfielder Haisley Huffman is playing well despite a sore leg, and McKinney “is flat-out playing the best of her career.”
Because of the unexpected departure of senior catcher Amaya Roybal, Oglesby said he was forced to move left fielder Benavidez to second base and second baseman Tayden Hyslop to third. Eighth-grader Melanie Lisabelle played right field. Third baseman July Lafferty converted to catcher.
The Lady Rattlers fell to 12-11 overall and 3-8 in district play.
Dexter (16-8 overall) wrapped up a district title with an 8-1 mark.
The Lady Rattlers’ regular season was scheduled to conclude Monday at Raton. (The game was after the Quay County Sun’s deadline.)
Tucumcari 17, Sandia Prep 1
Tucumcari 18, Sandia Prep 8
Tucumcari mowed down visiting Sandia Prep during a non-district doubleheader Thursday by scores of 17-1 and 14-0.
In the first game, the Lady Rattlers scored five runs in the first inning, seven in the second and five in the third, spanking 14 hits.
McKinney went 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Angel Vasquez had two hits, including a double, and drove in three runs. Ramirez went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.
THS pitcher Estrada allowed four hits and walked none while striking out two.
In the second game, the Lady Rattlers broke open a 6-6 tie with eight runs in the third inning.
Lafferty had a monster game, blasting a double and two home runs while totaling seven RBI. She also stepped in to play catcher after Roybal abruptly quit the team.
“Someone that has never played the game to playing third base and now catcher,” Oglesby said. “To be honest, I thought our season was over … until she came up to me said, ‘Coach, I’ll do it.’”
Ramirez drove in three runs with two doubles and a triple and scored three runs. Benavidez hit two doubles and a triple while scoring three runs.
Estrada earned the win again, allowing nine hits, one walk and striking out two.
Sandia Prep (5-13) committed six errors during the game.
Before the games, Tucumcari seniors McKinney, Estrada, Ramirez and Huffman and their parents were honored.
“Seniors really left it all out on the field,” Oglesby said. “Super grateful to coach a wonderful group of girls.”
Ruidoso 13, Tucumcari 0
The Lady Rattlers managed just one hit during a 13-0 district road loss last Monday at Ruidoso.
Huffman was the only Tucumcari player to register a hit — a single — against the Lady Warriors.
Ruidoso rapped 14 hits and seized control of the game with a nine-run fourth inning.
The Warriors, ranked sixth in Class 3A by MaxPreps.com, improved to 15-8 overall. They finished second in the district to Dexter.