Lady Rattlers win four

The Tucumcari softball team has worked on its hitting, and it showed last week while racking up four victories and averaging 15 runs a game.

The Lady Rattlers improved to 14-2 overall during the week and held a solid lead in the Class 3A-District 4/5 standings with a 5-0 record.

Tucumcari's 19-8 victory April 23 over winless district foe Sandia Prep proved to be a harbinger for the week. The Lady Rattlers banged out 20 hits during the game, including four home runs.

Loren Chavez went 4-for-5 with two homers and six RBI for Tucumcari, including an opposite-field blast in the fifth inning that clinched the victory by mercy rule. Jasmine Jones went 2-for-2 with a two-run inside-the-park home run and three RBI, and Paige Moralez also hit a solo inside-the-park homer.

Melanie Jones went 4-for-4 with two RBI. Kalani French nearly hit a fifth homer for Tucumcari but settled for a ground-rule double after her long drive bounced over the fence at Rattler Park.

Tucumcari coach CJ Oglesby said he put his team through its paces in the batting cages after a disappointing loss the previous week to area rival Logan.

"We were in the gym on a bad (weather) day, so that's all we did - work on the pitching machine and pure technique," he said. "We also had a big discussion after that loss Saturday and put it all behind us. We wanted to come out here and get the sticks going. I think we showed that a little bit today."

Lady Rattlers starting pitcher Jayden Jimenez allowed eight hits and three walks in five innings, striking out two. The home-plate umpire, insisting her delivery was illegal, forced her to change her pitching motion before the game.

"It bothered her for a while," Oglesby said, "but I don't think it bothered her later on."

She needn't have worried, with her offensive support. Tucumcari scored in every inning, including seven in the second and six in the third.

Chavez's three-run homer over the left-field fence in the third inning helped give her team a 10-run lead early. Sandia Prep never threatened after that.

"Loren was one of our top hitters later year, and she's starting to come through," Oglesby said. "If the meat of the order comes alive, we're going to be dangerous."

Tucumcari 12, Raton 5

The Lady Rattlers scored six runs at the top of the seventh to secure a 12-5 victory Thursday at Raton.

"Jasmine Jones came through with a bases-loaded triple," Oglesby said. "Everyone had a hit in the top of the seventh. Melanie Jones is still on a hitting streak, and Jayden pitched another great game. Paige had a wonderful game playing defense. I can't say enough about the team's drive to get better."

Jasmine Jones finished the game with five RBI. Tucumcari bashed eight doubles and 15 hits. Jimenez struck out four, walked none and hit two batters for the win.

Raton fell to 6-14.

Tucumcari 12,

East Mountain 8

Tucumcari 17,

East Mountain 0

Tucumcari notched two district victories on the road Saturday by sweeping a doubleheader against East Mountain.

In the first game, Jasmine Jones went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a homer and three RBI. French went 3-for-4 with an RBI and four runs scored. Chavez went 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI, and Oglesby singled her out for her defense as a catcher.

Tucumcari led 9-4 after four innings.

In the nightcap, the Lady Rattlers collected 22 hits. Moralez went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, and Tianna Peterson went 2-for-4, including a double and a home run, and three RBI.

During the doubleheader, French went 7-for-9.

Jimenez pitched both games and earned the victories.

East Mountain fell to 5-16, 1-4.

Logan 16, Santa Rosa 12

Santa Rosa 12, Logan 11 (8)

Logan split a district doubleheader on the road Thursday, including one loss in extra innings.

In the first game, the Lady Longhorns scored six runs in the top of the seventh for the come-from-behind 16-12 victory.

Logan's Kyndall Ragland went 3-for-4 with a home run and six RBI and earned the win as a pitcher. Teammate Elizabeth Brown went 3-for-4 with three RBI.

In the nightcap, Santa Rosa rallied from a run down to tie it, then won it in the eighth inning 12-11.

Harlie Roach went 4-for-5 with three triples and two RBI for Logan. Brown took the loss for the Lady Longhorns.

Santa Rosa improved to 15-4, 6-1. Logan fell to 4-1 in district play.

Dora 13, Logan 10

Dora, trailing by a run late, rallied for six runs in the last two innings in a 13-10 victory Saturday at Logan.

Brown and Kristi Earle each had two RBI for Logan. The Lady Longhorns committed nine errors, leading to nine unearned runs.

Logan fell to 7-9. Dora improved to 7-8.