Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Tucumcari High School baseball players warm up their throwing arms during practice last week on their new baseball field.
Home, sweet home - even if it's a new home.
Last season, the Tucumcari High School baseball team played all its home games in Logan while a new field was being constructed from a voter-approved $3 million bond issue in 2019.
Since about Feb. 1, the Rattler players have been practicing on their new diamond. Hopes are high with them and third-year coach George Montano.
"I'm happy I got a field this year, you know?" Montano said. "I couldn't be more grateful. I know Logan's not far away, but it going to make so much more of a difference for these guys to have their own field to play on."
The Rattlers' home opener on the new diamond is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday against Estancia, one day after their season opener at Raton.
The complex's concession stand still hasn't been built, though a concrete pad for it has been poured. A changing room also awaits construction.
But the diamond is complete, with a smooth dirt infield, grass outfield, new bleachers, dugouts, bullpens, protective netting and gleaming metal fences and light towers.
Hopes are high for the THS squad not just because of the field.
Montano has 12 returning varsity players from a rapidly improving 5-18 team. In all, he said he has 27 players practicing, including several from the basketball team that just finished its season.
Montano said when he first became coach, he formed a plan of rebuilding a moribund program that once lost 47 straight district games and 41 losses in a row overall.
"My third year was going to be the year that we come up, start competing and being in big games. And I feel like we can get to that point this year," he said.
Montano noted four teams from Tucumcari's district last season qualified for the state playoffs, with Sandia Prep winning the title.
"So our district's not easy," he said. "But I truly feel that we are at that point in our program to where we can compete in these district games."
Montano's new assistant coaches are Justin Garcia, also the golf coach, and Saul Ruiz, who is helping guide the team's pitchers and catchers.
The Rattlers figure to have a deep pitching staff with Nick Goen (0-1, 3.10 ERA), Josh Griego (2-3, 3.22 ERA), Oscar Angel (0-2, 2.45 ERA) and Kamren Apodaca (2-3) each returning.
Goen (.333 batting average), Griego (.353) and Apodaca (.440) also handled the bat well last year.
Also returning to the lineup are Juano Martinez (.372) and Luis Archuleta (.237).