Baseball season ends with district loss

Tucumcari’s baseball team ended its season at home Thursday with a 24-0 district loss against highly regarded Sandia Prep.

The Sundevils seized control with 10 runs in the first inning and added another 10 in the fifth and final inning. Overall, Sandia Prep banged out 15 hits and drew 11 walks.

The Rattlers (0-15) managed just two hits, including a double by Johnathan Blea. Sandia Prep’s Jacob Nicholson and Gus Walker combined for 12 strikeouts and one walk allowed.

Luiso Molinas and Blea shared much of the pitching duties for Tucumcari.

Tucumcari loses just two seniors — Josh Infante and Joey Dysart — from this year’s young and often shorthanded club.

“I was proud of the nine players who stuck out a losing season,” Tucumcari coach Dennis Dysart said. “Most of the time I had only 10 players for a game, going against the top three 3A teams in the state.

“Of course, with having four eighth- and ninth-graders starting against teams with good senior varsity teams, we were going to struggle. We lost, but we weren’t losers. Teams congratulated us for hanging in there and competing.”

Dysart also praised Blea and Molinas for their leadership during the season.

Sandia Prep improved to 16-4 overall and 12-0 in District 4/5.

NMMI 17, Tucumcari 2

Tucumcari found itself in a 9-0 hole after the first inning during a 17-2 district loss at home against New Mexico Military Institute on June 15.

NMMI added eight runs in the second inning during an 18-hit attack overall.

Coach Dysart noted NMMI was ranked fourth in Class 3A.

“We have the top three or four in our district,” he said. “It’s tough for an eighth-, ninth-grade team to compete against these clubs. But I’m proud of the guys out there, playing and learning.”

Tucumcari managed just two hits and committed five errors. The Rattlers scored their runs in the third when John Trujillo reached base on an infield error, Jesus Bueno hit an RBI triple and then scored on Josh Infante’s sacrifice fly.

The Colts improved to 11-6 overall and 6-6 in District 4/5.