The Pahrump Valley High School Trojans softball team brought the heat to Las Vegas on Wednesday, April 16, dominating The Meadows Mustangs 21-4 in a blowout victory.
The Trojans got off to a quick start in the top of the first. Autumn Colon drew a walk, advanced to second on an error, stole third, and raced home on another Mustang miscue for the game’s first run. Danika Cox-Hosino and Evalenne Armendariz followed with walks to load the bases, but a pop fly and a base-running mistake ended the inning with just one run on the board.
Armendariz took the circle and handled the bottom of the first with control. She fielded a grounder for the first out. A wild throw on a slow hit to third allowed a runner to reach second, and a deep double to center scored the tying run. The runner later advanced to third but was stranded when Ava Chiancone caught a fly ball to end the inning.
In the second, the Trojans broke the tie. Colon ripped a grounder to left for a double, bringing in a run. Armendariz followed with a hard-hit ball past first to score Colon, putting Pahrump up 3-1. Back on defense, Armendariz struck out the first batter. Colon made a clean running catch behind second for the second out, and Armendariz fielded a grounder to end the inning.
The top of the third saw the Trojans explode offensively. Riley Saldaña was hit by a pitch and stole second. Madison Rodriguez walked, and a passed ball brought Saldaña home. Mariah Gray and Quinn Kaucky also walked to load the bases. Ryleigh Denton stepped in and launched a triple to deep right, clearing the bases. Colon lined out and Denton was doubled off trying to score, but Pahrump wasn’t done. Hosino was hit by a pitch and later stole second, followed by another walk to Armendariz. A dropped fly ball to center allowed Sunday Colon to reach third and drive in two more runs, pushing the lead to 10-1.
In the bottom of the third, the Trojans made several defensive changes: April Ivy came in to catch, Kayla Glenn took over at shortstop, Sadie Freeman played third, Kayleen Carranza entered in center, and Denton moved to right. A dropped fly ball allowed the Mustangs to score twice. A runner attempting to steal home was thrown out in a wild sequence, and Ivy finished the inning by catching a strikeout to hold the lead at 10-3.
Pahrump kept the pressure on in the fourth. Ivy struck out to start, but Freeman and Kaucky got on base. Denton advanced them with a groundout before Glenn brought both runners in with a single. Glenn showed aggressive base running, stealing her way home. Armendariz launched a triple just inside the right-field line, and Sunday followed with a deep double to score another run. Saldaña’s line drive to left was dropped, scoring one more. Ivy reached on a walk and moved into scoring position, and Freeman knocked her in before the inning ended at 16-4.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Mustangs got a base hit but were shut down quickly. Freeman fielded a grounder and threw to first for the out, and a dropped third strike was recovered and converted for the final out.
The Trojans went right back to work in the fifth. Denton led off with a single and stole second and third. Glenn grounded out, but Kayleen Carranza brought Denton home with a base hit. Tierra Demers, batting for Armendariz, followed with a hit, and Isabella McHugh, batting for Sunday Colon, reached after being hit by a pitch. Saldaña added another base hit, scoring two more runs. Two quick outs ended the inning with Pahrump up 21-4.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Trojans shut the door with a quick four-up, three-down inning to secure the mercy-rule win.
With consistent pressure at the plate, aggressive base running, and sharp defense, the Trojans proved once again they’re a tough team to beat as they roll through the season.
