The Pahrump Valley High School Trojans softball team kept their postseason hopes alive with an explosive 18-8 victory over the Mater East Knights on Thursday, May 8, in the third round of the Class 3A Southern Regional Tournament. The win sends the Trojans to the next round, where they will face Virgin Valley on Friday, May 9, at Durango High School. With both teams holding one tournament loss, the winner will continue their path toward the championship, while the other will see their season come to an end.
It was a game filled with big moments and even bigger swings as the Trojans found their rhythm early and never looked back. April Ivy started in the circle for Pahrump and worked through early pressure in the top of the first, giving up a single run before a sharp defensive play ended the inning. Riley Saldaña showcased her awareness behind the plate, nabbing a baserunner attempting to steal second to end the frame.
The bottom half of the inning set the tone for the Trojans’ offense. Autumn Colon drew a walk, and Danika Cox-Hosino advanced her with a well-placed hit. Evalenne Armendariz launched a stand-up double to left-center, scoring the tying run. After Saldaña walked, Madison Rodriguez hit a grounder to the pitcher that led to a force-out, but Mariah Gray kept the momentum going. After a near-catch foul ball and a heads-up baserunning play from Saldaña, who scored on a passed ball, Gray drove in Madison for a 3-1 lead. Ryleigh Denton followed with a high fly to second that was mishandled, allowing Gray to sprint home and extend the lead to 4-1.
Mater East bounced back in the top of the second, capitalizing on a few defensive missteps to plate five runs and retake the lead, 6-4. The Trojans didn’t let the shift in momentum last long. After Ava Chiancone struck out to start the inning, Sadie Freeman drew a walk, and Autumn was hit by a pitch. Danika followed with a deep fly to center, but it was Evalenne who electrified the dugout with a home run over the center field wall, giving Pahrump a 7-6 edge. Saldaña ripped a double, stole third, then dashed home on a bobbled hit from Madison to make it 8-6. The Trojans continued to pressure the Knights, with Mariah, Ryleigh, and Ava adding timely hits and smart baserunning to close the inning ahead 10-6.
Bella McHugh took over pitching duties in the third and quickly recorded a strikeout and groundout before allowing a walk and a bloop hit to center. With two on, she fielded a bunt cleanly to end the inning, maintaining the lead. Offensively, the Trojans kept pouring it on. After two quick outs in the bottom of the third, Evalenne was intentionally walked for the second time. Saldaña beat out an infield hit, and after another successful steal, Madison knocked in both runners with a hard grounder to left. Mariah drove in Madison with another solid hit, pushing the score to 13-6.
In the fourth, Mater East managed to trim the lead slightly with two more runs, but solid defensive work from Ava, Saldaña, and Mariah helped prevent a larger rally. The bottom of the fourth saw the Trojans explode again. Sadie walked, Autumn battled her way to another walk, and Danika brought a runner home with a sharp hit to left. Evalenne was given first base for the third time, loading the bases. Saldaña was hit by a pitch to force in another run, and a dropped fly ball allowed another to cross. Mariah then drove in two more with a line drive to left, capping the inning with an 18-8 advantage.
The Knights couldn’t recover in the top of the fifth. Bella recorded another strikeout, and Sadie made a strong catch on a deep fly in center field. With runners threatening, Mariah made a critical force out at third to end the game and secure the win.
Head Coach Brian mentioned, “We need to take what we did today into tomorrow,” recognizing the importance of maintaining offensive intensity and defensive consistency. Assistant Coach Sammy echoed the sentiment, adding, “We’ve gotta hit the ball. We can’t let strikes go by. Good win.”
With energy and confidence on their side, the Trojans now turn their focus to Friday’s do-or-die matchup against Virgin Valley.
