The Pahrump Valley High School softball team wrapped up their final three games at the Needles Tournament with determination, finishing the weekend with a 2-3 record. The Trojans showcased their resilience, securing two wins and gaining valuable experience heading into the rest of the season.
PVHS vs. Williams Vikings
On Friday, February 28, the Trojans took on the Williams Vikings and earned their first victory of the season with a 7-3 win. Solid pitching and fielding held the Vikings scoreless in the first inning, while the Trojans capitalized early. Evalenne Armendariz hit a single, and Ryleigh Denton came in as a pinch runner. Denton’s speed on the bases, combined with a single from Sunday Colon, allowed her to score, giving PVHS an early 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, the Vikings responded, taking advantage of errors by the Trojans to put two runs on the board. However, PVHS quickly bounced back. Riley Saldaña reached first on a walk, and after a stolen base and an error on a hit by Kayleen Carranza, the Trojans had two runners on base. Autumn Colon stepped up and smashed a home run, driving in three runs to reclaim the lead at 4-2.
Williams added another run in the third, but a strong Trojans defense held them in check for the rest of the game. PVHS extended their lead in the fifth with a clutch two-out rally. Armendariz reached first after being hit by a pitch, with Denton entering as a pinch runner. Mariah Gray then delivered a key double, allowing Denton to score. Saldaña followed with an RBI single, and a hit by Ava Chiancone brought in another run. The game ended 7-3 in favor of the Trojans.
PVHS vs. Yuma Catholic Shamrocks
Later that day, PVHS faced a tough opponent in the Yuma Catholic Shamrocks, ultimately falling 7-2. The Shamrocks took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after a walk and errors by the Trojans.
The Trojans responded in the second inning, scoring two runs to take the lead. Sunday Colon was hit by a pitch, and Danika Cox-Hosino drew a walk. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position before a single from Mariah Gray drove them home, putting PVHS ahead 2-1. However, defensive struggles in the bottom of the second allowed the Shamrocks to score five runs, taking a commanding 6-2 lead.
Despite their efforts, the Trojans were unable to score for the remainder of the game, while the Shamrocks added one more run in the third. The game ended after the fourth inning, with the Shamrocks securing a 7-2 win.
PVHS vs. Legacy Longhorns
Determined to finish the tournament on a high note, the Trojans dominated their final game against the Legacy Longhorns, winning 8-0 in a game shortened due to the tournament’s max-time limit.
PVHS started strong, scoring four runs in the first inning. Autumn Colon led off with a single and stole second base. Armendariz was hit by a pitch, and Sunday Colon followed with a double, bringing in both runners. Solid Trojans defense kept the Longhorns scoreless, retiring them in order.
The Trojans maintained their offensive momentum in the second inning. The Glenn sisters, Kayla and Dakota, reached base but were tagged out attempting to score. Autumn Colon hit a double, followed by a dropped fly ball that put Riley Saldaña on base. Armendariz hit another double, driving in runners, while Madison Rodriguez and Danika Cox-Hosino added their own doubles with RBIs, bringing the lead to 8-0. Legacy was once again held to a three-up, three-down inning.
A long third inning saw the Trojans batting through their lineup and scoring nine more runs before the tournament time limit was reached, preventing the Longhorns from having another chance at the plate. Due to tournament rules, the final score was officially marked at 8-0 after two innings.
Head Coach Brian Hayes was proud of his team’s effort and growth over the tournament, stating, “From the tournament, we learned that we can compete with anyone… we also learned that sloppy defense takes away our opportunity to compete. Evalenne Armendariz and Kayla Glenn pitched well—Evalenne also led the team at the plate with seven hits on the weekend. Most importantly, we grew collectively as a team, on the field, at the hotel and on the bus.”
With a renewed sense of confidence and teamwork, the Trojans are eager to take what they learned in Needles and apply it to the rest of their season.
*A special thank you to Jessica Saldaña for the photos.
