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By Karen Boehler
Pecos League writer
LAS VEGAS, N.M. � One of the teams picked to finish near the top of the Pecos League and another that�s not expected to finish quite as high squared off in the opening game of Tuesday�s spring training tripleheader at Highlands University in Las Vegas.
The host Train Robbers � who many are picking to take the league title � scored more than two dozen runs in a marathon game against Raton, but neither manager was really looking at the score. Rather, their goal was to evaluate their players and both saw plusses and minuses.
�We looked good,� said Las Vegas manager Casey Dill. �The hitting�s always going to be there. This actually reminded me a lot of the team we had in Las Cruces last year. I think we probably scored 25 runs this game. At the same time, the part I�m disappointed in is we made five errors and I think we walked too many guys. To me, I don�t think they should have scored as many runs as they did, and that was a reflection of us not playing great on defense and walking guys with the lead. We weren�t pitching with the lead and throwing strikes. We�ve definitely got some things to work on, but it�s definitely not a bad way to start the season.�
While the Osos only scored about five runs � there was no scoreboard and no books, so only those keeping close track of who crossed home plate knew for sure � Raton manager Ray Hancock also saw some plussing, especially from a pitcher and shortstop who came straight to the stadium from the Albuquerque airport.
�Our pitching let us down a little bit, but this is the first time we�ve been on the mound,� Hancock said. �A couple of our guys actually slept in their car last night in order to come here and play today. You sleep in the car, you get like a half hour�s worth of sleep actually � it was cold last night � so I didn�t even ask them to play, but they wanted to play so I let them.�
And that�s the kind of dedication the manager is looking forward to seeing from his team.
�I�m happy they want to play that way, because that�s my kind of ball,� he said.
The Train Robbers had several days of practice in front of them, and Dill � who coached at Las Cruces in 2012 � saw some similiarities � not especially positive similiarities � in the two teams.
�Not taking anything away from the (Vaqueros), the reason we lost as many games as we did was because of errors and walks,� he said. �I think we lost 28 games in the regular season, and 10 of those games we were beat. The other 18 we beat ourselves. So I don�t want to be that team again this year that beats ourselves. We�ve got to play the game we�re capable of and we�ve got to make other teams beat us.�
To gewrt to that point, Dill said his team will be working hard leading up to opening day in Roswell May 14.
�We�re going to take 10,000 balls between now and opening day,� he said. �We�ll get it figured out. These guys are working very hard. Great group of guys. I can already tell this is going to be one of my most favorite teams I�ve ever been a part of. They�re committed. They�re working hard and we�ll do the work it takes to get where we need to be.�
The Osos will be in Raton getting to know each other and improve their play � and hoping they don�t get rained out � but one thing Hancock said he has no problem with is community support.
�I have the best town in the country, as far as I�m concerned, and that�s no joke,� he said. �Everybody�s been so sincere. They�ve basically given me the key to the city. I�ve got combinations to places I never thought I would have got. Keys to places I probably shouldn�t have, but they�ve been very helpful. Couldn�t ask for better help.�
So no matter what happens on the field � and Hancock is expecting good things there � the manager predicts the Osos will see success.
�It�s going to be a successful season,� he said. �Today was just practice, and that�s the way I looked at it. Yeah, we got our butts kicked but it�s just practice. We�ll come back. No problem.�
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