The Pahrump Valley High School softball team wasted little time making a statement at the Regional Tournament in Boulder City, delivering two commanding wins over Moapa Valley on Thursday, May 7 and Virgin Valley on Friday, May 8. Behind dominant pitching from Jaycie Hayes and a relentless offensive approach, the Trojans controlled both games from start to finish.
Game 1: Trojans Surge Early, Hayes Dominates in Win Over Moapa Valley
Jaycie Hayes set the tone immediately in the circle, striking out the side in the top of the first inning despite a pair of early defensive miscues that allowed Moapa Valley to load the bases. Hayes remained composed, closing the inning with her third strikeout to keep the Pirates off the board.
That momentum carried straight into the bottom half, where the Trojans’ offense erupted. Aspen Middaugh worked a leadoff walk, and Riley Saldana followed with a line-drive single to put two runners on. Hayes then delivered the biggest swing of the inning, launching a three-run home run to right field to give Pahrump Valley a 3-0 lead.
The Trojans continued to apply pressure, capitalizing on defensive errors and aggressive baserunning. Evalenne Armendariz reached base and later scored, while Madison Rodriguez and Jaelyn Rodriguez each contributed to a string of scoring plays. Olivia Veloz and Sadie Freeman also reached base and helped extend the inning as Pahrump Valley built a 6-0 advantage before the end of the first.
In the second inning, Hayes continued her dominance in the circle, striking out all three Moapa Valley hitters she faced. Offensively, she led off with a double and came around to score on another extra-base hit from Armendariz, pushing the lead to 7-0. Freeman later added a two-run single, bringing the score to 9-0.
The Trojans put the game firmly out of reach in the third inning with another explosive frame. Saldana reached on an error, and Hayes followed with a double to set the table. Armendariz drove in a run with a single, and Rodriguez added an RBI hit of her own. The lineup continued to cycle, with Veloz, Freeman and Middaugh all contributing as Pahrump Valley extended the lead to 15-0.
Defensively, Hayes remained in full control, finishing the game with a dominant performance in the circle, striking out eight while allowing just two hits and no runs. The Trojans combined timely hitting with opportunistic baserunning and steady defense to secure the run-rule victory.
Game 2: Hayes Tosses One-Hitter as Trojans Blank Virgin Valley
Friday’s matchup against Virgin Valley followed a similar script, with Hayes once again leading the way.
She opened the game with three consecutive strikeouts, immediately setting the tone. After a quiet first inning offensively for the Trojans, Pahrump Valley broke through in the fourth with a decisive rally.
Armendariz sparked the inning with a single, and Madison Rodriguez followed with another base hit. Jaelyn Rodriguez then delivered an RBI single to bring in the game’s first run. Myah Krolczyk added a hit to load the bases, and Freeman helped extend the inning as aggressive baserunning and defensive miscues allowed additional runs to score.
Middaugh contributed with a well-placed bunt single, and Saldana drew a walk to bring in another run. Hayes reached on an error, adding to the pressure before Armendariz came through again with a two-run double to highlight the inning. By the time the dust settled, the Trojans had built a commanding 9-0 lead.
From there, the story shifted back to the circle.
Hayes was nearly untouchable, recording strikeout after strikeout while mixing in key defensive plays behind her. The Trojans’ defense stayed sharp, with solid infield work from Olivia Veloz and Jaelyn Rodriguez and clean plays in the outfield helping preserve the shutout.
Virgin Valley managed just one hit in the game, as Hayes finished with an impressive 15 strikeouts over seven innings in a complete-game one-hitter.
Across both games, the Trojans showcased a complete team performance. Hayes led the way both at the plate and in the circle, while Armendariz consistently delivered key hits, including multiple extra-base hits. Contributions came throughout the lineup, with Middaugh, Saldana, Madison Rodriguez, Jaelyn Rodriguez, Veloz and Freeman all playing important roles in generating offense and applying pressure.
With strong pitching, timely hitting and aggressive play on the bases, Pahrump Valley continues to build momentum as the Regional Tournament progresses.
