The Pahrump Valley High School softball team took care of business at home on Monday, April 13, defeating the Boulder City Eagles 10-0 in a game that ended by mercy rule.
Behind a strong outing in the circle from Jaycie Hayes, the Trojans built an early lead and steadily added to it, combining consistent offense with controlled pitching to secure the win.
Hayes had to work early in the top of the first. Boulder City opened with a single that turned into a runner in scoring position after an error, and another miscue moved the runner to third with no outs. Hayes responded under pressure, striking out the next three batters in order to strand the runner and keep the game scoreless.
Pahrump Valley answered in the bottom half. Aspen Middaugh was hit by a pitch to lead things off, and Riley Saldaña followed with a walk. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, and after a pop out, Mariah Gray drove a ground ball into right field, bringing both runners home for a 2-0 lead.
In the second, Hayes continued to command the circle. She issued a leadoff walk, then fielded a bunt back to the circle and followed it with another defensive play on a second bunt attempt, keeping runners from advancing further. She finished the inning with two strikeouts, stranding both runners on base.
The Trojans added on in the bottom of the second. Evalenne Armendariz worked a walk, and courtesy runner Myah Krolczyk moved around the bases. After Olivia Veloz reached on an error that allowed both runners to move into scoring position, Middaugh came through again, sending a hard ground ball to left field to score both runners and extend the lead to 4-0.
Defensively, Pahrump Valley stayed steady through the middle innings. In the third, the Trojans retired the side with a fly ball handled cleanly in right by Sadie Freeman, a strikeout from Hayes, and a pop out secured in left by Middaugh.
Hayes continued to work efficiently in the circle, mixing pitches and staying ahead in the count. In the fourth, she struck out all three batters she faced—two swinging and one looking—without allowing a ball into play, keeping Boulder City from generating any offense.
The Trojans broke the game open in the fifth with their most productive inning. Middaugh led off with a single to center, and Saldaña executed a sacrifice bunt to move her into scoring position. Hayes followed with a hard-hit double to left, driving in Middaugh to make it 5-0.
Gray kept the rally going with another extra-base hit to center, scoring Hayes. Jaelyn Rodriguez added an RBI single to right, and after Madison Rodriguez doubled to left to put two runners in scoring position, Armendariz delivered a two-run double to center, stretching the lead to 9-0.
On the defensive side, Hayes continued to limit opportunities. In the fifth, she recorded another strikeout, and the Trojans closed the inning with a line out to first baseman Jaelyn Rodriguez, who handled it cleanly.
In the sixth, Boulder City reached on an error and drew a walk to put two runners on, but Pahrump Valley worked out of the inning. Hayes recorded a strikeout, and the defense turned a fielder’s choice through the middle infield, with Olivia Veloz and Middaugh combining to get the lead runner and end the threat.
The Trojans added the final run in the bottom of the sixth. Middaugh reached base again on a bunt single, and Saldaña was hit by a pitch to put two on. After a pop up in the infield, Gray delivered once more, sending a ground ball to right field to score Middaugh and push the lead to 10-0.
With the run-rule margin reached, the game concluded with Pahrump Valley securing the win.
Hayes controlled the game from the circle, working through six innings with multiple strikeouts while limiting Boulder City’s chances. At the plate, Middaugh reached base in each of her appearances and set the tone at the top of the lineup, while Gray led the offense with multiple RBIs. Contributions throughout the order highlighted a steady approach at the plate.
Pahrump Valley stayed in control throughout, using early runs, clean execution, and consistent pitching to secure the home victory.
