The Pahrump Aztecs Bronze 14U club baseball team showed persistence and flashes of offensive firepower Wednesday evening as they hosted Clark in a doubleheader in Pahrump. Although the Aztecs came up short in both contests, falling 18-2 in game one and 17-9 in game two, the team continued to compete inning by inning while several players delivered standout performances both offensively and defensively.
In the opening game, the Aztecs served as the home team and faced an early challenge from Clark in the top of the first inning. Everett Abelar took the mound for Pahrump and battled through a lengthy inning that included multiple walks and aggressive baserunning from Clark. Despite the early pressure, the Aztecs recorded a pair of defensive outs with Kasen Smith making a play at second base on a fly ball and Stetson Brown connecting with Sawyer Tillery for a groundout. Abelar also picked off a runner at first base to end the inning.
Trailing 4-0, the Aztecs answered in the bottom half of the first. Justin Forsythe and Kasen Smith both battled at the plate before Abelar sparked the offense with a line-drive double to right field. Brown followed with another hard-hit double that brought Abelar home for Pahrump’s first run of the game.
Clark added to its lead in the second inning, but the Aztecs continued fighting through defensive adversity while rotating pitchers. Chris Mize Jr. and Ethan Crunk both saw time on the mound during the inning as Pahrump worked to slow Clark’s momentum. Bentley Shannon made a pair of catches in left field during the frame to help record outs defensively.
The Aztecs loaded the bases in the bottom of the second after Anthony Aguilar, Trustin Butterfield and Sawyer Tillery each worked walks. Shannon followed with a deep fly ball that nearly sparked a bigger rally before Ethan Crunk drove in a run with a groundout to cut the deficit to 16-2.
Justin Forsythe took over pitching duties in the third inning and settled in nicely after Clark added two more runs. One of the inning’s highlights came when Forsythe teamed with Kasen Smith to catch a runner stealing second base. Brown and Smith also combined for another defensive out on a fielder’s choice to end the inning.
Pahrump showed more offensive life in the bottom of the third as Forsythe ripped a line-drive double to center field. Smith followed with a fly ball to center before Brown put the ball in play again late in the inning, but the Aztecs were unable to extend the rally.
Despite the final score, the Aztecs collected key extra-base hits throughout the game, including doubles from Abelar, Brown and Forsythe. Brown, Forsythe and Abelar all finished with hits, while Aguilar, Butterfield and Tillery helped create scoring opportunities by drawing walks.
The second game saw the Aztecs quickly rebound offensively as the visiting team. Pahrump wasted little time jumping ahead in the top of the first inning.
Forsythe opened the game with a walk before Abelar delivered a hard ground-ball single to center field that brought home Kasen Smith for the game’s first run. Brown later advanced Abelar with a groundout before Zayne Tuck singled to keep the inning alive. Isaiah Samayoa reached on a defensive miscue that allowed Abelar to score, and Bentley Shannon followed with an RBI single to center field as the Aztecs grabbed an early 3-0 lead.
On the defensive side, Brown started on the mound for Pahrump and recorded the team’s first out with Smith fielding a ground ball at shortstop and throwing across to Tuck at first base. Brown later picked up a strikeout looking during the inning as he worked through Clark’s response.
Clark eventually moved ahead after capitalizing on several baserunners and timely hits, but the Aztecs continued battling throughout the game.
Anthony Aguilar took over pitching duties in the second inning and worked through a difficult frame that included a successful sacrifice bunt by Clark. Tuck made a strong defensive play at first base on a fly out, while Smith recorded another defensive out on a pop up to shortstop to end the inning.
The Aztecs answered in the top of the third with another strong offensive push. Forsythe drew another walk and Smith was hit by a pitch before Abelar came through again with a hard-hit single to center. The play brought home Forsythe and Smith while an outfield error allowed Abelar to race all the way to third base. Brown followed with an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 8-6.
Trustin Butterfield handled pitching duties in the bottom of the third, while Bentley Shannon later came in to close out the inning on the mound. Shannon picked up a strikeout looking to help stop the inning.
Clark extended its lead in the fourth inning, but the Aztecs refused to go away quietly. Shannon took over pitching and battled through traffic on the bases while also recording another strikeout. Max Augustine later teamed with Anthony Aguilar for a clean defensive groundout to end the inning.
Pahrump mounted one final rally in the top of the fifth. Forsythe and Smith both reached base again before Abelar delivered one of the biggest hits of the night, crushing a line-drive triple to center field that scored two runs. Brown followed immediately with a double to center to bring home Abelar and trim the deficit to 17-9.
The Aztecs continued putting pressure on Clark with Samayoa drawing a walk later in the inning, but the comeback attempt ultimately fell short.
Abelar turned in a huge offensive performance in game two, finishing with three hits, including a triple, while driving in four runs. Brown added a double and two RBIs, while Tuck collected two hits. Shannon, Forsythe and Abelar all contributed RBIs during the contest as the Aztecs repeatedly found ways to respond offensively.
Across both games, the Aztecs continued to show resilience at the plate and effort defensively while multiple players contributed in different roles throughout the doubleheader.
