Pahrump Valley High School’s softball team opened the Class 3A State Tournament in impressive fashion on Thursday, May 14, battling past an early deficit before erupting offensively in the later innings for a commanding 13-4 victory over the Fernley Vaqueros.
The Trojans showed resilience throughout the contest, combining timely hitting, aggressive baserunning and strong pitching from freshman ace Jaycie Hayes to secure the win and continue their postseason run.
Fernley threatened immediately in the bottom of the first after a leadoff single, but the Trojans quickly shut down the momentum. Catcher Madison Rodriguez fired a strike to shortstop Aspen Middaugh to catch the runner stealing second before Hayes settled in and struck out the next batter swinging. Hayes then fielded a ground ball herself and threw to first baseman Jaelyn Rodriguez to end the inning scoreless.
Pahrump’s offense stranded runners in the second inning despite creating traffic on the bases. Evalenne Armendariz worked a walk before Mariah Gray followed with a single. Jaelyn Rodriguez advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt, and Madison Rodriguez was later hit by a pitch to load the bases. Fernley escaped the jam with a strikeout and groundout to keep the game scoreless.
Hayes began to find her rhythm in the circle during the bottom half of the inning, striking out three batters while allowing just one single.
The Trojans finally broke through in the top of the third. Middaugh reached with a slap bunt single before Riley Saldaña moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Hayes then delivered a sacrifice fly to center field, bringing Middaugh home for the game’s first run and a 1-0 PVHS lead.
Armendariz added a double later in the inning and Gray drew a walk, but Fernley again prevented additional damage.
The Vaqueros responded in the bottom of the third with their biggest offensive push of the game. After a walk and a fielder’s choice created pressure, Fernley connected for a key hit that plated three runs and suddenly gave the Vaqueros a 3-1 advantage. The inning could have become much larger, but the Trojans came up with one of the game’s biggest defensive plays when Hayes and second baseman Olivia Veloz combined on a double play to prevent another run from scoring and stop the rally.
Pahrump immediately answered in the fourth inning. Tierra Demers reached after being hit by a pitch, and Sadie Freeman followed with a deep triple to center field that scored Demers and cut the deficit to 3-2.
Hayes continued to dominate in the circle in the bottom half, recording two more strikeouts to keep the Trojans within one run.
The momentum fully shifted in the fifth inning as the Trojans reclaimed the lead. Hayes opened the frame with a triple to center field, and Armendariz followed with a walk. Gray then laid down a bunt single to load the bases before Rodriguez delivered one of the biggest hits of the game — a two-run double to left field that scored both Hayes and Armendariz and put PVHS back on top 4-3.
The Trojans’ defense backed up the offense immediately in the bottom of the inning. Hayes struck out the leadoff batter before Jaelyn Rodriguez made two strong defensive plays at first base on foul popups to help retire the side in order.
Pahrump added valuable insurance in the sixth inning. Freeman singled to begin the inning and later scored on a double from Saldaña to extend the lead to 5-3. Hayes then brought home another run with her second sacrifice fly of the game, scoring Saldaña for a 6-3 advantage.
Armendariz continued her standout day at the plate with another double before Gray drove her home with an RBI single to make it 7-3.
Fernley threatened briefly in the bottom of the sixth after two runners reached base, but Hayes shut the door with three straight strikeouts to preserve the four-run lead.
The Trojans then exploded offensively in the seventh inning to put the game away.
Madison Rodriguez opened the inning with a single before Myah Krolczyk reached on an error. Middaugh followed with another bunt single to load the bases, and Saldaña delivered an RBI single to score Isabella McHugh, who was running for Madison Rodriguez.
Hayes then delivered the knockout blow. With the bases loaded, the Trojan pitcher launched a line-drive triple to center field, clearing the bases and stretching the lead to 11-3. Armendariz later reached on an error that allowed Hayes to score, and Rodriguez added another RBI single later in the inning as the Trojans pushed the advantage to 13-3.
Fernley added one run in the bottom of the seventh, but Hayes closed out the game with her 12th strikeout of the afternoon and the Trojans secured the 13-4 victory.
Hayes was dominant both in the circle and at the plate. She pitched all seven innings, allowing four runs while striking out 12. Offensively, she finished with two triples, a double, five RBIs and two sacrifice flies.
Armendariz also had a huge day offensively, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two doubles. Gray collected three hits and three RBIs, while Rodriguez drove in three runs. Freeman added a triple and an RBI, Saldaña finished with two hits and two RBIs, and Middaugh contributed two hits and scored twice.
As a team, the Trojans collected 16 hits and continued to showcase the balanced offense and aggressive style that helped carry them into the state tournament.
