The Pahrump Valley Little League Jr. All Stars, better known as the Coco Locos, continued their strong run through Division 4 All Star tournament play Friday, June 19, earning a 17-1 victory over Summerlin South Little League Jr. All Stars at Children’s Memorial Park.
While the final score reflected a dominant performance, manager Scott Brown said the team needed a moment to settle in after the excitement of the previous night’s game.
“Before the game started, the kids came out kind of flat coming off of last night’s win,” Brown said. “Good motivational game last night carried over to today. We didn’t seem like we were already there, but boy, did they come out and play hard.”
Once they found their rhythm, the Coco Locos delivered in every phase of the game, combining productive at-bats, aggressive baserunning, strong defense and efficient pitching.
Pahrump opened the game by immediately creating pressure in the top of the first. Justin Forsythe worked a leadoff walk and quickly advanced into scoring position with stolen bases. Although the Coco Locos were unable to bring him home, they established an aggressive tone early.
That momentum carried directly into the bottom of the inning.
Everett Abelar took the ball to start for Pahrump and worked efficiently from the outset. Sawyer Tillery recorded the first defensive out at first base before Abelar struck out the next batter looking. After a walk extended the inning, the Coco Locos turned in another clean defensive sequence as Kasen Smith fielded a ground ball and connected with Stetson Brown to erase the runner and end the frame.
Pahrump broke through in the second inning.
Smith opened the inning by drawing a walk before Zayne Tuck followed with a single to put two aboard. Trustin Wagnon worked another walk to load the bases and Antony Aguilar brought home the game’s first run with a productive groundout.
The offense continued applying pressure.
Tuck scored on a wild pitch before Tillery delivered an RBI single and advanced into scoring position. Additional walks and another wild pitch brought home another run as the Coco Locos stretched the lead to 4-0.
The defense answered once again in the bottom half.
After Summerlin South opened with a single, Abelar and Tillery combined for one of the game’s top defensive moments, turning a line-drive double play that quickly erased the threat. Brown followed with a clean throw across the diamond to finish the inning.
The Coco Locos created separation in the third.
Bentley Shannon opened the inning with a walk and aggressive baserunning helped create another opportunity. Abelar reached to put multiple runners aboard before Brown was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Smith delivered one of the biggest swings of the night, driving a bases-clearing double to center field that pushed the lead to 7-0.
Pahrump stayed aggressive.
Tuck followed with a bunt single and Wagnon reached to load the bases again. Aguilar added a two-run double before Tillery delivered another extra-base hit with a two-run double of his own. Tillery later scored to complete an eight-run inning and extend the lead to 12-0.
Summerlin South pushed across a run in the bottom of the third, but Pahrump quickly responded.
Smith entered in relief and settled things down immediately, recording two strikeouts while receiving strong support behind him. Abelar handled a play at third and Tillery completed another out at first to limit the inning.
The Coco Locos continued building in the fourth.
Abelar singled and moved aggressively around the bases while Brown and Smith reached to load the bases once again. Multiple wild pitches brought home two runs before Tuck reached on a walk.
Wagnon followed with an RBI single to center and Tillery added another RBI single later in the inning to push the advantage to 17-1.
Summerlin South made one final attempt in the bottom of the fourth with multiple runners reaching base.
Pahrump responded defensively.
Tuck delivered a standout moment behind the plate by catching a runner attempting to steal home. Brown then entered on the mound and recorded the final strikeout to secure the win.
Several Coco Locos turned in standout performances.
Tillery finished with three hits and four RBIs while collecting multiple extra-base hits. Smith drove in three runs and later added strong work in relief. Aguilar contributed three RBIs, Tuck reached base repeatedly and scored three times, and Wagnon added two RBIs while crossing the plate three times.
Brown credited the complete effort across the field, especially the work on the mound.
“Pitching was good all around,” Brown said. “Everett threw 20 pitches tonight and 14 of them were strikes. Then we get Kasen to come in, he pitched a great game to close it out and then Stetson posted out there. But they hit well. Defense was good all around.”
Brown said the overall performance left him proud of the way his players responded.
“I can’t be more proud of these boys,” he said.
With the win, the Coco Locos moved forward in Division 4 tournament play and prepared for their next game at Mountain Ridge Park.
