The Raton Tiger Baseball team was looking sharp for the second game of the season as the offense hit and the pitching combined for a shutout win, 17 – 0 in five innings over Tucumcari.
The game originally was set for Friday, but two inches of snow postponed the game to Saturday. The Tiger team worked hard to clear the field and get it in shape, but even with the effort, ground rules before the game specified what to do if a ball got stuck in a snowbank. But the weather on Saturday was kind, as the game was played in the late winter sun and temps in the upper 50s.
The Tigers batted through the order in both the first and second innings, staking the home team to a 15 – 0 lead. Five different Raton pitchers each had 2 strikeouts in their inning of work, including starter Chance Middlebrook along with GB Oliver, Matt Quartieri, Dylan Quartieri and Trea Ortega.
Tucumcari pitching walked six Raton batters, including Matt Quartieri three times, and hit two Raton batters with pitches and the defense committed several errors that Raton baserunners took advantage of to even their season at 1-1.
Next up for Raton, Portales comes to Gabriele Field for a varsity doubleheader on Monday, March 14 and then that next weekend will be competing at the St. Mikes Tournament on March 17 through the 19th.
