The Pahrump Valley Little League Juniors All-Star team opened the District 4 Junior Baseball Tournament with back-to-back wins, combining power at the plate, smart base running, and determined pitching to stay in the winner’s bracket.
Their first game, held Thursday, June 12, against Western, was a commanding 15-3 win that showcased both their offensive depth and defensive coordination. On Friday, June 13, they returned to the field against Peccole and fought through a nail-biting, seven-inning battle to edge out a 4-3 victory.
“These kids are resilient,” said Head Coach Scott Brown. “They’re a good group of kids. I saw it when we first came together as All-Stars, and I always tell them, if you put the effort in, good things will happen. They’re starting to believe that.”
In Thursday’s opener against Western, Pahrump wasted no time putting runs on the board. Sawyer Tillery reached base on an error to open the first inning and quickly moved into scoring position. Walks and smart baserunning gave Pahrump a 2-1 lead by the end of the first inning. By the top of the second, they stretched the score to 5-1 behind hits from Diego Ruiz and Stetson Brown and aggressive movement on the basepaths.
Pitcher Tanner Johnson held Western in check through two innings with reliable field support, including an assist from third baseman Everett Abelar and a crucial strikeout to end the inning. As the offense kept pressure on Western’s pitching, the game shifted further in Pahrump’s favor. By the third inning, with the bases loaded and Trustin Butterfield stealing home, Pahrump built an 8-2 lead. A new pitcher for Western didn’t slow the onslaught, as Tanner and Diego continued to draw walks and get runners home.
By the fourth inning, big hits from Zayne Tuck and a deep shot by Stetson added to the total. Errors in the field and passed balls by Western allowed Pahrump to pile on, ending the fourth up 14-3. In the top of the fifth, Everett brought Stetson in with an RBI hit. Stetson closed the game on the mound with a clean inning—securing the 15-3 victory via the 10-run rule.
“The first one, we had the advantage from the start,” said Coach Brown. “We had strong pitching and hitting and ended up walking a lot. We got ahead early, and it was a good win that kept our momentum going.”
That momentum carried into Friday’s game against Peccole, though this one was far closer.
Stetson Brown started on the mound and threw strong innings, supported by airtight defense. The early innings were quiet, with both teams trading outs and working out of jams. In the top of the third, Peccole scored the first run on a series of base hits, but Pahrump struck back in the bottom half with Junior Mize reaching on a base hit and advancing on a throwing error. Walks to Ryder Dixon and a bunt single from Tanner loaded the bases. Juan Ruiz and Zayne Tuck drew walks to bring in runs, and Pahrump pulled ahead 2-1.
Peccole tied the game in the sixth after Stetson maxed out his pitch count and was replaced by Andrew Chastain. A passed ball and error in the outfield allowed Peccole to score and make it 3-3.
The seventh inning proved decisive. With the game tied and one last chance to avoid extra innings, Stetson reached first on a bobbled grounder. He stole second, and Everett stepped to the plate. With a solid double to left center, he brought Stetson home for the walk-off win—final score 4-3.
“They battled back,” said Coach Brown. “Today they were a little tired, but I told them, ‘Keep going, keep going. It’s going to be a battle today,’ and it was. Both teams were tough, but our pitchers were solid, and our defense really stepped up. When the kids had the opportunity to get on base, they stole some bases, and we ended up coming out on top.”
The Juniors team is comprised of Diego Ruiz, Zayne Tuck, Stetson Brown, Everett Abelar, Sawyer Tillery, Trustin Butterfield, Drew Chastain, Zyzek Taulbee, Christopher “Junior” Mize Jr., Ryder Dixon, Tanner Johnson, and Leo Mendoza-Lara. As per tournament rules, the full 12-player roster must be present for each game, with all players required to bat, though there are no field time minimums.
With two wins under their belts, Pahrump remains in the winner’s bracket and is set to play again Monday night. Coach Brown is hopeful about the team’s chances. “They’re a complete team, and the cohesiveness showed tonight. If they keep playing like this, I like where we’re headed.”
