Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The Tucumcari baseball team suffered four more losses last week but inched closer to its first victory since 2019.
At the West Las Vegas Tournament, the Rattlers (0-5) barely dropped the opener 4-3 to East Mountain on Thursday, then lost a 10-9 decision to Taos on Friday.
The Rattlers then fell in the seventh-place game 11-2 to Socorro on Saturday.
New Tucumcari coach George Montano was pleased with his team’s performance against East Mountain. The Rattlers rallied with a run to tie it in the top of the seventh inning, and the Timberwolves won it with a run in the bottom of the frame.
“East Mountain is one of the top three teams in 3A, and we took them all the way to the seventh inning,” he said.
Kam Apodaca and Billy Otero each had two hits and one RBI.
Tucumcari starting pitcher Johnathan Blea struck out 11 and allowed two earned runs. He also hit a triple and drove in a run.
“John wanted the ball going into Thursday’s matchup, and he put up a solid performance,” Montano said. “We were beyond proud of him and the guys.”
East Mountain ended the week 6-2.
Against Taos, Andrew Henderson-Clark hit a triple and later scored in the fifth inning, but Montano said his team was down 10-1 going into the seventh and final inning.
“I told the guys, ‘Why not now?’” he recalled. “And they responded to the task of being down and fought hard.”
Josh Griego singled with the bases loaded for a run, then Blea smashed a two-run double to left. After two walks, Samuel Lopez hit a two-run double.
“We had the game — just started too late,” Montano said.
Griego started and pitched 6 2/3 innings for Tucumcari. Oscar Angel pitched to one batter in relief and struck him out.
Taos ended the week with a 6-6 record.
Against Socorro, Montano said starting pitcher Angel “threw an absolutely amazing game. It’s just the defense couldn’t help him out.”
Angel made five putouts, struck out five and walked two.
“Offensively, we didn’t get anything going at all,” Montano said. “Both our offense and defense had their moments; I just wished it was in the same game.”
Socorro ended the week with a 1-8 mark.
Tucumcari is searching for its first victory since March 18, 2019, when it drubbed Melrose 17-3.
“Defensively, we need work,” Montano said, “and offensively, we need to swing the bat and not watch strike three go right down the middle. It’s the little things that hurt us this weekend.”
Santa Rosa 11, Tucumcari 1
The host Lions seized control by jumping to a 9-1 lead by the second inning en route to an 11-1 victory over Tucumcari on March 22.
Santa Rosa rapped 12 hits and drew six walks during the game.
Lions pitcher Santiago Pacheco allowed just two hits and walked none while striking out seven in five innings.
Santa Rosa ended the week with a 3-4 record.
