Could the floundering Santa Fe High softball team finally crack the win column

It’s not Santa Claus coming to town, but the Santa Fe High softball team still welcomes visiting Raton today.

It’s a non-district game, but neither team has plans regarding the post-season state tournament. The Demonettes, under their eighth different head coach since the 2010-11 season, have pieced together a pair of wins in 21 starts. One was at home, so maybe it’s a good sign for 5A Santa Fe when it faces 3A Raton.

The other was on a neutral field in a March 25th tournament non-district forfeit over Shiprock. The other in Santa Fe in 15-3 non-district romp over Grants.

They have lost 11 in a row and are 0-8 in District 5. They have not been a threat from the circle or from the batter’s box. They at least have some experience with five seniors and three juniors on a roster of 14, but only seniors Ariana Preda and Jaden Eustice have made the divine effort, with Prada taking turns at 1st base, 2nd base and in the outfield. Eustine is a southpaw who does most of the pitching and also plays first and serves as a utility player.

They also have much less experience with three 8th-graders, two freshmen and one sophomore. So the lower grades are getting time on the field but have plenty of catching up and learning to do.

Presently, Korie Polanco Lujan is in her initial campaign as head, although the program’s website doesn’t list the previous year’s person in charge.

Raton has its own problems, but to Santa Fe High it doesn’t matter as it seeks to reach the win column again.

The Tigers are 3-14 overall, have lost seven in a row, were recently routed in a doubleheader at non-district opponent Capital, but at least holds down the No. 13 ranking in 3A while the Demonettes are ranked 28th in 5A.

“We are very young but we come to play,” says Raton head coach Thomas Barksdale. “We have a grand total of nine, yes nine 8th-graders, five sophomores and four seniors. No freshmen, no juniors”

On Friday the Tigers have a District 2 doubleheader at St. Michael’s, with the Lady Horsemen having their own problems after getting away to a 4-0 start, and getting to 7-1 before settling into a slump, and after being swept, 21-6 and 16-5, in a twin bill at West Las Vegas are 8-11 overall and winless in eight district outings.

Thus, Raton comes to town with a chance to keep Santa Fe High fading or helping its own cause, and the same holds true at St. Michael’s. The disadvantage is these lengthy round trips separated by only three days.