The Pahrump Valley High School Lady Trojans wasted no time making a statement at the Colorado River Invitational in Needles, opening tournament play February 26-28 with back-to-back victories over Elko and Williams. Behind strong pitching performances, aggressive baserunning, and timely hitting, Pahrump Valley secured a 5-3 win over the Elko Indians and followed it up with a commanding 7-0 shutout of the Williams Vikings.
In game one, Jaycie Hayes took the circle against Elko and immediately set the tone. The Trojans held the Indians to four batters in the opening frame, allowing just a single while recording two strikeouts and a ground out to limit any early momentum.
Offensively, the Trojans wasted no time getting on the board. Aspen Middaugh led off with a bunt single to third, and Autumn Colon followed with a walk. Hayes then delivered a hard ground ball to shortstop for a single, and a bad throw allowed Middaugh to score while Colon and Hayes advanced into scoring position. After Evalenne Armendariz was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Jaelyn Rodriguez struck out before Madison (Madi) Rodriguez grounded out to first, bringing Colon home. Mariah Gray’s fly out to right ended the inning with Pahrump up 2-0.
The Trojans’ defense remained sharp in the second inning, retiring Elko three up, three down with two more strikeouts and a ground out to shortstop.
In the bottom half, Riley Saldaña and Sadie Freeman were retired before Middaugh once again created pressure with a bunt, reaching on an error by the third baseman. She promptly stole second. Colon followed with a line drive single to left that scored Middaugh, and Hayes added a double to center to plate Colon. After Armendariz was hit by pitch and Jaelyn Rodriguez walked to load the bases, Madi Rodriguez drew a walk to score Hayes. Gray’s ground out ended the inning, but not before the Trojans extended their lead to 5-0.
Elko mounted a challenge in the top of the third. After two early strikeouts, an error allowed a runner aboard, followed by a single and a walk to load the bases. A line drive double to right field brought three runs home before a ground out to second ended the inning, narrowing the score to 5-3.
From there, the Trojans’ defense locked in. Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth inning, sealing a 5-3 victory to open tournament play.
In their second game of the day, Pahrump Valley faced the Williams Vikings from Arizona and delivered a complete performance in a 7-0 shutout.
As the visiting team, the Trojans went to work immediately. Middaugh popped out to third, but Colon reached on an error and Hayes followed with a line drive single to right, moving Colon to third. With Armendariz at the plate, Colon scored on a catcher’s error. Armendariz then reached on an error by the second baseman, and Jaelyn Rodriguez’s line drive to right brought Hayes home. A fly out ended the frame with Pahrump ahead 2-0.
Armendariz handled pitching duties in game two and was steady from the start. In the bottom of the first, Williams managed a single, but the Trojans recorded a ground out, a fly out, and a line out to keep the Vikings off the board.
The Trojans added to their lead in the second. Mariah Gray opened with a line drive single to right, and Riley Saldaña reached on an error. Courtesy runner Dakota Glenn was picked off at second before Saldaña stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Middaugh delivered a hard ground ball up the middle to score Saldaña, pushing the lead to 3-0.
Williams again threatened little in the bottom half, as Armendariz and the defense limited them to a single and an error before closing the inning with a strikeout.
In the third, Hayes led off with a line drive to center. After Armendariz popped out, Jaelyn Rodriguez singled to right, advancing Hayes to third. Madi Rodriguez walked to load the bases. Although Hayes was caught attempting to steal home, Gray reached on an error by the first baseman, allowing both Jaelyn and Madi to score and extend the lead to 5-0.
The Trojans continued their dominance in the fourth. Glenn opened with a hard ground ball single to center, and Middaugh followed with another bunt single, advancing both runners on a throwing error. After a pop out held the runners, Hayes ripped a double to center field, driving in both Glenn and Middaugh. Armendariz and Rodriguez were retired to end the inning, but the damage was done.
Williams was once again held in check in the bottom of the fourth, securing the 7-0 shutout victory.
Through two games at the Colorado River Invitational, the Lady Trojans showcased balanced offense, disciplined at-bats, aggressive base running, and strong pitching performances from both Hayes and Armendariz. With early-season momentum building, Pahrump Valley demonstrated that they are prepared to compete at a high level as tournament play continues.
*Photos taken at a different game this season.
