The Pahrump Valley High School baseball team left everything on the field Friday, May 8, in Boulder City, battling through 12 intense innings against Virgin Valley in the second game of the Regional Tournament before falling 4-3 in a game filled with momentum swings, defensive battles and dramatic late-inning moments.
Despite the heartbreaking finish, the Trojans showed resilience throughout the afternoon, repeatedly fighting back and extending their season inning after inning.
“Wave of emotions,” Head Coach Drew Middleton said. “Talk about a game that tests your resilience, stamina, confidence and your will. We fought, we fought to our last strike.”
Virgin Valley struck first in the top of the third inning after capitalizing on a pair of baserunners and a sacrifice fly to take a 1-0 lead. Another run crossed later in the inning following a two-out single, putting the Bulldogs ahead 2-0.
Pahrump’s defense responded with several key plays to keep the deficit manageable. In the fourth inning, shortstop Tony Whitney started a smooth double play alongside Dominic Chiancone and CJ Nelson to erase a baserunner and end the threat. The Trojans also continued to showcase the aggressive pickoff game and situational defense that became a strength late in the season.
Cody Fried started on the mound for the Trojans and worked through constant pressure from the Bulldogs lineup. Virgin Valley scattered hits across multiple innings, but Fried repeatedly stranded runners and limited the damage while pitching deep into the game.
“Credit to Cody Fried,” Middleton said. “He didn’t have his best stuff. He struggled to locate his offspeed for strikes early in the game. Dealt with a lot of traffic, but kept battling and getting out of jams. Even though he didn’t have his best stuff, he still found a way to pitch into the seventh inning. That’s phenomenal stuff and says a lot about his growth.”
Middleton reflected on the development Fried has made over the past year.
“A year ago, he loses control on the mound,” Middleton said. “A year later he’s able to navigate through rough waters and persevere. Outstanding stuff.”
While Fried battled on the mound, the Trojans offense struggled early against Virgin Valley starter Uriah Pereida, who kept Pahrump off balance through the first five innings.
“Credit to Virgin’s starter Uriah Pereida,” Middleton said. “He did a good job mixing it up, keeping us off balanced. He blanked us for the first five innings.”
The Trojans finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning.
After Ben Cimperman and Dominic Chiancone were retired to start the inning, Tony Whitney reached on an error and Anthony Montanez followed with a walk. CJ Nelson then delivered one of the biggest hits of the afternoon, ripping a double to left field that scored Whitney and cut the deficit to 2-1.
Moments later, Dominic Wilson lined a single into left field, bringing home Montanez to tie the game at 2-2 and energize the Trojan dugout.
“We finally were able to grind together some quality at-bats to tie the game at two and chase Pereida out of the game,” Middleton said.
Virgin Valley regained the lead in the top of the seventh after a single and hit batter put runners on base. Vinny Whitney came in to relieve Fried and recorded two outs while working through a tense situation. However, a balk call brought home the go-ahead run, giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead before Whitney ended the inning with a strikeout.
Middleton was frustrated with the ruling but proud of the way his team responded afterward.
“So what should have been a 2-2 tie still is now 3-2,” Middleton said. “But even after that, our guys kept fighting.”
The Trojans answered immediately in the bottom half.
Vinny Whitney opened the inning with a single before being called out on a pickoff attempt at first base. Jack Walker then drew a walk, and courtesy runner Leland Delgado advanced into scoring position before moving to third on a groundout by Cimperman. Delgado eventually crossed the plate on a wild pitch to tie the game once again at 3-3 and force extra innings.
From there, both teams traded missed opportunities and clutch defensive plays.
In the eighth inning, Nelson singled and Montanez walked, but the Trojans stranded both runners. In the ninth, Vinny Whitney doubled and advanced to third with one out, but Virgin Valley escaped the jam without allowing the winning run to score.
Pahrump again threatened in the 10th after Tony Whitney singled and Wilson later added another hit, but the Bulldogs turned a key double play to keep the game tied.
“We had guys on second or third in the eighth, ninth and 10th,” Middleton said. “We just couldn’t get the game-winning hit. We put ourselves in position, we just couldn’t find a home when it mattered most.”
Vinny Whitney was outstanding in relief, striking out six batters over nearly six innings of work while repeatedly escaping pressure situations. He helped strand runners in both the ninth and 10th innings and kept the Trojans alive deep into extras.
The Bulldogs finally pushed across the decisive run in the top of the 12th inning after a leadoff single and RBI double gave Virgin Valley a 4-3 edge.
Even on the final scoring play, the Trojans nearly came up with the out at home plate.
“We had the guy thrown out at the plate,” Middleton said. “Tough relay from CJ, tough hopper for Ben to corral to make the tag, couldn’t get his full grasp on the baseball and the ball comes out on the tag.”
Pahrump had one final chance in the bottom of the inning, but Virgin Valley recorded three consecutive outs to close out the marathon contest.
The Trojans finished with eight hits, led by Nelson’s 3-for-6 performance with a double and RBI. Wilson added two hits and an RBI, while Vinny Whitney collected two hits including a double. Tony Whitney also added a hit and scored once.
Fried struck out five batters over 6.1 innings, while Vinny Whitney added six strikeouts in relief.
Although the loss ended the Trojans’ season one game short of a trip to Reno, Middleton said the effort and growth displayed by the team throughout the year left him proud of the group.
“In the two days, it felt like every bounce went the way of our opponent,” Middleton said. “But again, when the deck was stacked against this team, they fought. They found ways to continue the game. The resilience this team showed was outstanding and they have nothing to hang their head over.”
Middleton also reflected on his first season as head coach and the progress the team made from start to finish.
“Year one is complete. And what a ride it was,” Middleton said. “This team never gave up. They had heart. They had grit.”
He also spoke emotionally about the senior class that helped bring him back to the program.
“It’s no secret this senior class is a big part of why I’m here,” Middleton said. “They wanted me to come back and coach them. I can’t tell you how bad I wanted it for them. My only regret is I only got one season to coach these seniors.”
Middleton pointed to the team’s late-season improvements in pitching, defense, baserunning and situational baseball as signs of a bright future for the program.
“The growth of this team should make everyone a part of this very, very excited for the future,” Middleton said. “We promise we won’t forget this feeling. We won’t forget how hard Friday felt. We’re going to continue to fight, hit the ground running and make sure we aren’t in this situation next year.”
