The Pahrump Aztecs Bronze 14U club baseball team showed determination and flashes of strong execution throughout a Wednesday, June 10 doubleheader at home against DO Nelson, battling through adversity and continuing to compete from first pitch to final out in both games.
DO Nelson claimed the opener 16-7 before completing the sweep with a 9-6 win in game two, but the Aztecs produced several big innings offensively and turned in multiple defensive highlights across both contests.
In game one, Pahrump served as the home team and opened the evening facing early pressure.
Bentley Shannon took the ball to start for the Aztecs and worked through a difficult opening frame. After an early flyout recorded by right fielder Ashton Toole, the Aztecs collected key defensive outs behind Shannon as Stetson Brown connected with Sawyer Tillery twice on ground balls to limit further damage.
Trailing after the opening inning, Pahrump looked to respond immediately. Justin Forsythe reached to begin the bottom half and the Aztecs tried to apply pressure on the bases, but DO Nelson escaped the inning.
The visitors added to their lead in the second despite another defensive sequence that featured Everett Abelar making a clean play at third and Brown continuing to show consistency defensively from shortstop.
Then came one of Pahrump’s strongest stretches of the day.
The Aztecs erupted for six runs in the bottom of the second to completely change the energy of the game.
Kasen Smith started the rally with a hit before Shannon worked a walk. Trustin Wagnon followed with a single to load the bases and Tillery brought home the Aztecs’ first run with a sacrifice fly.
Pahrump stayed aggressive. Wagnon later came home during an active baserunning sequence before Zayne Tuck and Anthony Aguilar both reached to keep innings alive.
Forsythe put pressure on the defense and reached to bring home additional runs, and Abelar followed with another hard-hit ball that resulted in two more crossing the plate as the Aztecs trimmed what had been a seven-run deficit down to a single run at 7-6.
Defensively in the third, Anthony Aguilar moved onto the mound and helped settle things down. Tillery delivered one of the defensive highlights of the game by picking off a runner at first, and Abelar later helped erase another threat with a strong throw to third to catch a runner attempting to advance.
Pahrump threatened again in the bottom of the third.
After Tillery reached and Tuck added a single, the Aztecs loaded the bases once more when Aguilar worked a walk. Although they were unable to push runs across, the inning continued to show Pahrump’s ability to generate offense.
DO Nelson created separation in the fourth, but the Aztecs answered again.
Forsythe opened the bottom half with a single and Abelar followed with a run-scoring double to bring home Pahrump’s seventh run of the game. Brown reached to extend the inning and keep pressure on the visitors.
The Aztecs continued mixing pitchers late, with Forsythe taking over in the fifth before Max Augustine finished the game on the mound and recorded a pair of strikeouts to close the defensive effort.
Offensively in game one, Abelar stood out with a double and RBI while Tuck collected multiple hits. Forsythe, Smith, Wagnon and Aguilar each contributed to the offensive push during the Aztecs’ big second inning.
In game two, Pahrump flipped to the visiting side and came out swinging immediately.
Smith opened the game with a single, Abelar followed with another base hit and Shannon added one of his own as the Aztecs loaded the bases in the opening inning. Although they could not capitalize, the early traffic set the tone.
Smith started on the mound before Chris Mize Jr. entered in relief and helped stabilize the defense. Mize recorded a strikeout and worked through traffic while keeping the Aztecs within reach.
Pahrump’s defense delivered a momentum-building moment in the second inning.
After a walk and defensive pressure from DO Nelson, Sawyer Tillery and catcher Trustin Wagnon teamed up to throw out a runner attempting to score and end the inning.
Another defensive highlight came in the third when Wagnon threw out a runner attempting to steal second, helping erase a potential scoring chance.
The Aztecs finally broke through in a big way in the fourth.
Aguilar started the inning by reaching, and Isaiah Samayoa followed with a single. Mize worked a walk before Augustine was hit by a pitch to force home the first run.
Ethan Crunk then drew another walk to plate the second run before Zayne Tuck delivered a line-drive single that tied the game.
Abelar followed with another RBI knock and Pahrump continued applying pressure on the bases. Crunk later stole home during the inning and Wagnon capped the surge with an RBI single as the Aztecs turned a three-run deficit into a 6-3 lead.
DO Nelson answered in the bottom half, but the Aztecs continued battling defensively.
Crunk moved onto the mound and worked through a difficult inning while recording the final out himself with a ground ball back to the pitcher.
In the fifth, Pahrump mounted one final push.
Mize worked a walk and Crunk added a single to put runners aboard, but the rally was ultimately cut short.
Across the doubleheader, the Aztecs continued to show resilience at the plate and flashes of sharp defensive play while getting contributions from multiple players throughout the lineup. Abelar, Tuck, Forsythe, Wagnon, Aguilar and several others helped create scoring opportunities as Pahrump stayed competitive and continued building experience together against tough competition at home.
