The Pahrump Valley High School softball team delivered a strong all-around performance at home on Friday, April 24, using a big first inning and steady play throughout to secure a 13-3 win over Sports Leadership & Management (SLAM!) in a game that also celebrated Senior Night.
Before the first pitch, the Lady Trojans honored seniors Myah Krolczyk and Madison Rodriguez, recognizing their contributions to the program alongside their families in a special pregame ceremony that set the tone for the evening.
Once play began, it was Evalenne Armendariz who took command in the circle. She opened the game with confidence, working through the top of the first with help from her defense. After a groundout to Mariah Gray at third and a flyout handled by Natalie Soto in left, Armendariz worked around a walk and an error to keep SLAM! off the board, finishing the inning with another groundout.
The Trojans wasted no time responding.
In the bottom of the first, Jaycie Hayes got things started with an RBI single that brought home Rodriguez after she reached earlier in the inning. Moments later, Armendariz helped her own cause in a big way, launching a three-run home run to center field that quickly pushed the Trojans out to a 5-0 lead. The inning featured disciplined at-bats, with Aspen Middaugh drawing a walk and Riley Saldaña being hit by a pitch to help load the bases before the big swing.
SLAM! managed to get on the board in the second inning, capitalizing on a hit batter and a pair of well-placed hits to bring in a run. But Armendariz limited the damage, recording a strikeout and forcing a groundout to strand runners and maintain control.
Pahrump answered again in the bottom half. Rodriguez and Middaugh each worked walks to get things going, and Hayes came through once more, delivering a two-run single to extend the lead to 7-1. Heads-up baserunning and pressure on the defense led to another run scoring later in the inning, pushing the Trojans ahead 8-1.
The third inning saw Armendariz continue to rack up strikeouts, but SLAM! found a way to plate another run on a pair of hits. Still, the Trojans’ defense held firm, with Armendariz closing the inning with a groundout to Jaelyn Rodriguez at first.
After a quiet bottom of the third, SLAM! added one more run in the fourth following a single and a groundout. But again, the Trojans responded immediately. Middaugh sparked the offense with a triple to right field, and Hayes followed with yet another RBI single to make it 9-3.
From there, the game shifted firmly in Pahrump’s favor.
Armendariz and the defense locked things down over the next two innings. In the fifth, Myah Krolczyk and Aspen Middaugh each recorded clean defensive plays, while Armendariz induced soft contact to keep SLAM! off the scoreboard. The sixth inning was just as efficient, highlighted by another strikeout and a pair of routine groundouts handled by the infield.
Meanwhile, the Trojans continued to build their lead.
In the fifth, Jaelyn Rodriguez doubled to left to set up another scoring opportunity. Middaugh later reached on an error that allowed two runs to score, stretching the lead to 11-3. The pressure never let up, with Dakota Glenn contributing a well-placed bunt single to keep the inning alive.
The final blow came in the sixth.
Saldaña led off with a single, and Armendariz capped off her standout night with her second home run of the game—a two-run shot to right field that brought the score to 13-3 and triggered the mercy rule.
Armendariz’s performance was dominant on both sides of the ball. In the circle, she kept SLAM! hitters off balance with a mix of strikeouts and ground ball outs, while at the plate, she provided the biggest offensive moments with two home runs and multiple RBIs. Hayes also turned in a strong showing, consistently delivering in key situations with multiple hits and RBIs, while Middaugh contributed both at the plate and on the basepaths.
Defensively, the Trojans stayed composed, making routine plays and limiting big innings, with contributions across the infield and outfield helping secure the win.
With the 13-3 victory, Pahrump Valley not only celebrated its seniors in memorable fashion but also continued to showcase the balanced offense and steady defense that has defined its season.
