The Pahrump Valley High School Trojans baseball team delivered an explosive performance against the Canyon Springs Pioneers on Wednesday, May 7, securing a 17-1 victory in a crucial second-round matchup of the regional tournament. The game, which had originally been scheduled for Tuesday, May 6, was delayed due to rainouts that postponed Canyon Springs’ first-round contest. As a result, the Pioneers were forced to play back-to-back games, facing the Trojans immediately after their earlier loss to Boulder City.
Vinny Whitney took the mound for the Trojans and got off to a tough start, giving up a solo home run on the very first at-bat of the game. However, Whitney quickly settled in, and with solid defensive backing—including a crisp double play started at shortstop to end the first inning—Pahrump Valley shut the door on any further scoring threats. The infield was sharp, turning ground balls into easy outs, and second baseman Tony Whitney made several clean tosses to first to stop runners in their tracks. In the outfield, right fielder Cody Fried made back-to-back catches in the second inning, one of them a line drive and the other a fly ball, showcasing great positioning and glove work.
The defensive highlight of the day came in the fourth inning when relief pitcher Samuel Mendoza entered the game. He wasted no time commanding the mound, retiring the side with two strikeouts and a pop-out to first baseman Andrew Zurn. Mendoza’s confident presence helped preserve the team’s comfortable lead and shut down any momentum Canyon Springs hoped to muster.
Offensively, the Trojans responded immediately in the bottom of the first. Tony Whitney sparked the lineup with a single, and Aidyn Cratty followed with a triple to bring him home. Cratty’s aggressive baserunning added early energy, even though an attempted steal of home came up short. Still, the inning ended with the score tied 1-1, setting the stage for what would soon become a commanding lead.
In the bottom of the second, a walk and a double set the tone. After a fielder’s choice and a fly out, Tony Whitney delivered his second hit of the game—a single that brought in the go-ahead run. By the end of the inning, Pahrump had taken a 2-1 lead.
The momentum continued into the third inning, where the Trojans unleashed a scoring barrage. Cratty led off with a double, and thanks to a series of smart base running, key hits, and an error by the Pioneers’ infield, the Trojans racked up seven runs in the frame. Hits from CJ Nelson, Ben Cimperman, Cody Fried, Tony Whitney, and Andrew Zurn contributed to a relentless offensive push. By the end of the inning, Pahrump had extended its lead to 9-1.
The fourth inning brought Mendoza to the mound, and his dominant outing was complemented by continued defensive focus. With the Trojans back at the plate, a combination of passed balls, walks, and well-placed hits resulted in eight more runs. Kayne Horibe capped off the inning and the game with a powerful triple to center field, bringing in two more runs and invoking the mercy rule with a final score of 17-1.
With the win, Pahrump Valley moves forward in the double elimination tournament and is set to face Virgin Valley on Thursday, May 8 at 4 p.m. in Mesquite. Both teams carry one loss into the matchup, making this game a pivotal one—the victor will advance in tournament play, while the defeated team will see their postseason come to an end. The Trojans will look to carry their momentum, both at the plate and in the field, into Thursday’s high-stakes showdown.
*All sports photos from all PVHS 2024-2025 sports are available for sale at pvcnphotos.com
