The Pahrump Valley High School baseball team carried its early-season momentum into Wednesday’s matchup against the Western Warriors, earning an 11-1 victory at home. The game marked the Trojans’ fifth contest of the young season but their first outside of tournament play after hosting the Rod Poteete Memorial Tournament over the weekend, where Pahrump Valley delivered a strong performance and finished as tournament runner-up.
Sam Mendoza took the mound to start the game for the Trojans with Ben Cimperman behind the plate. Pahrump’s defense quickly set the tone in the opening inning. Dominic Chiancone tracked down a fly ball in the grass at second base, and Tony Whitney followed with a catch at shortstop for the second out. Western managed a double to deep left field, but the Trojans remained composed, finishing the inning with a groundout to short.
The Trojans were retired in order in the bottom of the first, but the pitching staff kept Western quiet in the second. CJ Nelson fielded a ground ball and raced to the bag himself for the first out before Mendoza struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Pahrump Valley broke through offensively in the bottom of the second. Cody Fried was hit by a pitch to reach base, then advanced to second on a steal. Kayne Horibe followed with a deep drive to the outfield for a triple, bringing Fried home for the first run of the game. Vinny Whitney then put the ball in play and reached on an error, allowing Horibe to score and giving the Trojans a 2-0 advantage.
Dominik Wilson took over pitching duties in the third and kept the Warriors off balance, striking out the first batter before inducing a pop-up to the pitcher and a groundout to Chiancone at second to complete a quick inning.
In the bottom of the third, CJ Nelson ignited the offense with a line-drive double to right field. Ben Cimperman followed with a deep fly ball to center that turned into a double after an error, allowing Nelson to score and extend the Trojans’ lead to 3-0.
Pahrump’s defense continued to shine in the fourth inning. CJ Nelson made a difficult catch on a high foul fly behind first base, Vinny Whitney secured a fly ball in left, and Tony Whitney tracked down another fly ball near second base on the run to close the inning.
The Trojans added another run in the bottom half of the fourth. Horibe drove a deep ball to the center field fence that initially left him unsure if it had cleared the wall. The outfielder managed to retrieve it, but Horibe raced into third with a triple. Vinny Whitney followed with a sacrifice fly to the outfield, allowing Horibe to tag up and score, pushing the lead to 4-0.
Western managed its only run of the game in the top of the fifth. After a slow ground ball allowed a runner to reach and a walk put two on, a bunt attempt resulted in a throwing error that allowed a run to cross. The Trojans quickly recovered, however, as a runner was picked off at first and Horibe made a running catch in center field to end the threat.
Pahrump answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth. CJ Nelson opened the inning with a stand-up double to left field, and Cimperman followed with a single to center to bring him home and make it 5-1. Later in the inning, Jacob Selbach reached on an error that allowed another run to score, extending the lead to 6-1.
Horibe moved to the mound in the sixth and worked through a brief challenge after two Warriors batters were hit by pitches. The Trojans’ defense held firm, and Horibe struck out two batters to leave the runners stranded.
The Trojans put the game away in the bottom of the sixth with a flurry of offense. Tony Whitney drew a walk to start the inning, and Nelson advanced the runner before Cimperman was hit by a pitch to put two aboard. After a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, Fried delivered a clean double to left field, bringing both runners home.
Horibe followed with a walk, and Vinny Whitney later singled to left to drive in another run. With runners again in scoring position, Wilson reached safely on a fielder’s choice that allowed Horibe to beat the throw home. Selbach then lifted a fly ball to right field that was misplayed, allowing Vinny Whitney to score the final run and triggering the mercy rule.
The win moves the Trojans to 4-1 on the season, with Pahrump Valley demonstrating depth across the lineup and steady work from the pitching staff. With contributions coming from multiple players, the Trojans continue to build confidence as the season moves forward..
