The Pahrump Valley High School Lady Trojans showed resilience and offensive firepower Tuesday, March 3, overcoming an early deficit to secure a commanding 13–3 victory over the Silverado Skyhawks on their home field.
Silverado jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning against Trojan starting pitcher Evalenne Armendariz. The Skyhawks opened with a pop out to third baseman Mariah Gray, but quickly followed with a series of hits—three singles to center and right field—to build momentum. A fourth single to center drove in the game’s first run before the Trojans responded defensively. Pahrump Valley caught a runner attempting to advance with a pickoff at third, and Armendariz recorded the final out herself on a foul pop. Still, the Skyhawks exited the inning with a 2–0 advantage.
The Trojans began their half of the first with Aspen Middaugh drawing a walk. Autumn Colon executed a bunt that advanced Middaugh all the way to third after a close slide. Jaycie Hayes then put the ball in play, but Silverado turned a double play after Middaugh attempted to score on the contact, ending the inning before the Trojans could push a run across.
Silverado threatened again in the second inning with two singles after a strikeout and a groundout to Armendariz at the pitcher’s circle. At that point, Hayes entered in relief and immediately shut down the rally, inducing a groundout to shortstop to end the frame.
Pahrump Valley began to find its rhythm in the bottom of the second. After Mariah Gray flew out to center field, Madison Rodriguez worked a walk and Sydney Crotty entered as a courtesy runner. Jaelyn Rodriguez followed with a sharp line drive to center field, though Crotty was caught at third trying to advance. Jaelyn later moved to third on a wild pitch, and Armendariz drew a walk to keep the inning alive.
With two outs, Riley Saldaña came to the plate and Dakota Glenn was hit by a pitch, forcing in the Trojans’ first run of the game. Silverado made a pitching change, but the momentum had shifted. Middaugh delivered a line drive single to center field that brought another run home, drawing loud cheers from the home crowd. The rally ended on a high pop-up to shortstop, but Pahrump Valley had cut the deficit.
The Trojans tightened things up defensively in the top of the third. After the leadoff batter was hit by a pitch, the runner was caught stealing before Hayes struck out the next two batters to close the inning.
In the bottom half, Hayes popped out to third, but Gray answered with a line drive single to right field. Rodriguez laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Gray to second, though the inning ended with a pop out to second base.
Silverado managed to reclaim a brief advantage in the fourth. Two strikeouts appeared to put the Trojans in control, but a batter reached first on a dropped third strike. That runner eventually stole home on a passed ball before another strikeout ended the inning, giving the Skyhawks a 3–2 lead.
The Trojans responded emphatically in the bottom of the fourth with their biggest rally of the night. Armendariz was hit by a pitch to open the inning, and Saldaña followed with a bunt single. Glenn laid down another bunt and reached base when the ball was dropped on the tag attempt, loading the bases with no outs.
Middaugh lifted a fly ball to left field, but the bases remained loaded. Colon then drew a walk to bring in the tying run. Hayes followed with a hard ground ball to right field that scored two more runs, putting Pahrump Valley back in front. Gray continued the surge with a bunt that resulted in a throwing error to third base, allowing two additional runs to score. By the time the inning ended on a foul pop out and a fly ball to center, the Lady Trojans had erupted for five runs and taken a commanding 7–3 lead.
The Skyhawks threatened again in the fifth with a double and a sacrifice bunt that moved a runner to third, but Hayes shut the door with a strikeout to preserve the four-run advantage.
Pahrump Valley added to its lead in the bottom of the fifth. Armendariz opened with a hard ground ball single to center field, and Myah Krolczyk entered as a courtesy runner. Saldaña drew a walk, and Glenn laid down a sacrifice bunt that forced an errant throw from the catcher, allowing another run to score. Though the inning ended with a strikeout, a pop out, and a groundout, the Trojans extended their cushion.
Hayes delivered one of the most dominant pitching performances of the night in the top of the sixth, striking out all three Skyhawk batters she faced to quickly send the Trojans back to the plate.
The Lady Trojans then sealed the victory in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the sixth. Gray reached safely after beating a throw on a ground ball to first, and Rodriguez followed with a line drive double to left field that scored courtesy runner Natalie. Jaelyn Rodriguez continued the offensive surge with another double to center field, driving in Rodriguez to push the score to 10–3.
Moments later, Saldaña stepped to the plate with runners aboard and delivered the decisive blow—a towering home run over left-center field that ended the game via the mercy rule and secured a 13–3 victory for the Lady Trojans.
After the game, Head Coach Brian Hayes reflected on the team’s performance and their ability to respond after a slow start.
“It was a good win,” Hayes said. “We didn’t start strong, but it’s not how you start but how you finish.”
The Trojans demonstrated exactly that, overcoming an early deficit with disciplined pitching, aggressive baserunning, and a powerful offensive finish that energized the home crowd.
