The Pahrump Valley High School Trojans softball team came out swinging in their first-round playoff matchup against the Virgin Valley Bulldogs, earning a commanding 17-6 victory as they began their quest for a State tournament appearance.
The game got off to a cautious start, with the Trojans loading the bases in the top of the first but managing just two runs. Danika Cox-Hosino drew a walk, Sunday Colon reached on a misplay, and Riley Saldaña followed with another walk. Madison Rodriguez got on base to bring in the first run, followed by Mariah Gray dropping a shallow single into left to score another. With the bases loaded and two outs, Ava Chiancone’s contact resulted in a groundout, but the Trojans took a 2-0 lead.
Kayla Glenn took the mound for Pahrump, and while the bottom of the first saw some base activity, the defense held strong. Madison Rodriguez and Mariah Gray combined for a key throw-out at third, and Sadie Freeman made a catch in center to keep the Bulldogs scoreless through one. The inning ended on an unusual play when a throw from Rodriguez to third accidentally hit the batter but resulted in an out, keeping the Trojans up 2-0.
Virgin Valley got on the board in the bottom of the second with a trio of hits and a couple of defensive missteps by the Trojans, allowing the Bulldogs to briefly take a 3-2 lead. Pahrump quickly responded in the top of the third. Saldaña was hit by a pitch, Rodriguez reached on a fly ball misplayed in the outfield, and Mariah Gray reached on a fielder’s choice, bringing in a run. Ryleigh Denton walked, and Ava Chiancone followed with another walk to load the bases.
With the pressure mounting, Freeman walked to score another, and Autumn Colon delivered a center-field single to drive in one more. Danika Cox-Hosino came up big with a base hit to the outfield, scoring another run, and when the Bulldogs’ throw home got away, two more Trojans runners crossed the plate. By the time the inning ended, Pahrump had turned a narrow deficit into a 10-3 lead.
Virgin Valley chipped in a run in the bottom of the third, but Pahrump’s defense held strong, with Chiancone and Saldaña making key plays to limit further damage. In the top of the fourth, Chiancone walked and advanced on a hit by Freeman. Colon also walked, and Cox-Hosino was hit by a pitch, loading the bases once again. While Sunday Colon was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice, Saldaña was hit for a third time—drawing an umpire check for safety—and Madison Rodriguez delivered a hard hit down the third base line to bring in another run. Saldaña later stole home on a passed ball, and Denton and Chiancone both added walks to keep the pressure on. By the end of the inning, the Trojans were comfortably ahead 16-4.
Virgin Valley added two more in the bottom of the fourth after a dropped ball in the outfield allowed a runner to score, but Autumn Colon and Danika Cox-Hosino both made solid catches to prevent a larger rally. In the fifth, Cox-Hosino reached on a dropped fly ball and advanced to second. Sunday Colon moved her to third, and Saldaña came through again with a hit to left-center that scored her, bringing the tally to 17-6.
In the bottom of the fifth, Denton made an impressive running underhanded catch in right field, followed by Autumn Colon snagging a low fly at shortstop. With two outs and two runners on, the Trojans defense stayed composed and sealed the win, securing a successful start to their playoff campaign.
With strong bats, aggressive base running, and a defense that tightened up when it mattered most, the Trojans advanced past Virgin Valley and will look to carry their momentum into the next round of the playoffs.
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