By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
It was a beautiful Wednesday afternoon May 8, 2024 for a makeup softball game the was cancelled and was thought to be forfeited but got rescheduled a week later.
In an unusual turn of events the first Robertson double header that was scheduled for May 2, 2024 was cancelled and then listed as a forfeit. According to the Robertson Head Coach David Ulibarri the coaching staff didn’t know what was going on they were only told that they couldn’t play or practice there was a matter that was under investigation. Friday morning the Robertson coaches received word that everything was clear and they could go back to practices and games. The forfeiture was cleared and the games rescheduled for Wednesday May 8, 2024, in time to get things squared away for the state tourney selection.
Game one looked like it was going to be a runaway as Robertson scored first and then went on to a 7-2 score the after three innings. The Raton girls struggled with several errors that allowed runs to be scored. By the middle of the fifth inning Robertson led 13-2. Then the Raton bats came alive and sent eight Raton girls around the horn was Robertson pitcher Ariana Sanchez began to tire. A four and out allowed Raton to make it a 13-12 ball game. Robertson added a run in the seventh and held on for the 14-12 win.
Game two was a totally different game as the Raton girls played a better game holding on and taking the lead in the third inning 4-3. Gianna Marez was in the circle for the Lady Tigers and went to the sixth inning before Mariah Gonzales relieved her. It was the sixth inning that opened it up when Marez struggled in the circle walking several Lady Cardinals to load the bases and allowing them to score runs.
Raton however battled back and tied the game at nine in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Both teams were allowed a runner at second and one out to start the overtime inning. Coach Tommy Barksdale chose to walk the first Robertson batter a decision that would cost Raton a run. Robertson added four runs in the overtime and Raton could only muster three runs to end the game 13-12.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robertson | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 13 | 3 |
| Raton | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 13 | 4 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robertson | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 8 | 5 |
| Raton | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 4 |
