In a game that featured momentum swings, aggressive base running and timely hitting on both sides, the Pahrump Valley Little League Senior Division matchup between the Braves and Dodgers on Tuesday, April 28 delivered a competitive, inning-by-inning battle that kept both teams within striking distance throughout.
The Dodgers struck first in the top of the opening inning against Braves starting pitcher Stetson Brown. Trustin Wagnon reached on a walk and worked his way around the bases, eventually scoring on a defensive miscue to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Brown settled in after that, recording two strikeouts to limit further damage.
The Braves answered emphatically in the bottom half, taking advantage of early traffic against Dodgers pitcher Caleb Morales. Justin Forsythe was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and after Nathan Elliott walked and Brown was also hit, the bases quickly filled. Everett Abelar delivered the key hit, a ground ball single that brought in two runs to flip the score. Zayne Tuck followed with a double to left, driving in two more, and the Braves continued to pressure the defense with aggressive baserunning. By the end of the inning, the Braves had surged ahead 5-1, highlighted by Abelar’s run-producing swing and Tuck’s extra-base hit.
The Dodgers responded in the second inning, showing patience at the plate. Morales led off with a single, and a string of walks loaded the bases. Angelo drew a walk to bring in a run, and Lane Howard followed with a well-placed single that cut the deficit further. Defensive miscues allowed another run to score, trimming the Braves’ lead to 5-4.
The Braves continued to apply pressure in the bottom of the second. Forsythe singled and later scored, while Brown and Abelar each added RBI hits to extend the lead to 7-4. Abelar stood out again in the inning, finishing with multiple hits and runs driven in, while Brown contributed both on the mound and at the plate.
After a quieter third inning that saw both defenses settle in—highlighted by strikeouts from Morales and clean infield play behind him—the Dodgers mounted another push in the fourth. With Sawyer Tillery taking over pitching duties for the Braves, the Dodgers capitalized on walks and advancing runners. Howard and Matthew Blume each drew bases-loaded walks to bring in runs, and Champ Colon followed with another walk to tie the game at 7-7. A key defensive moment came when the Braves turned a fielder’s choice double play, cutting down a run at the plate and halting further damage.
The Braves had an opportunity to respond in the bottom of the fourth after Forsythe singled and advanced to third, but Dodgers pitcher Logan Nunez—who had come in to relieve—worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout, preserving the tie.
The decisive momentum shift came in the fifth inning. Facing Forsythe on the mound, the Dodgers once again showed discipline at the plate, drawing walks and putting runners in scoring position. Angelo delivered the biggest hit of the inning, a ground ball single that brought in two runs to give the Dodgers a 9-7 lead. Howard added another hit to keep the inning alive, finishing the game with multiple hits and RBIs.
In the bottom half, the Braves looked to rally. Tuck and Tillery were retired on balls in play, but Levi Calleros kept the inning alive with a single and aggressive baserunning, stealing second. Nunez, however, closed the door with a strikeout to end the game.
Both teams showcased balanced efforts throughout the contest. For the Braves, Abelar and Tuck provided key offensive sparks early, while Brown contributed on both sides of the ball. Forsythe also reached base multiple times and was active on the bases. The Dodgers countered with a team-wide approach at the plate, drawing 16 walks and consistently putting pressure on the defense. Howard and Angelo delivered timely hits, while Morales and Nunez combined to navigate a challenging Braves lineup on the mound.
In the end, it was the Dodgers’ late-inning execution that made the difference, but both teams demonstrated resilience and competitiveness in a game that remained in doubt until the final out.
*Photos available at pvcnphotos.com.
