The Pahrump Valley High School Trojans baseball team hosted the Boulder City Eagles on Thursday, May 1, for a night filled with emotion, celebration, and competitive spirit. Before first pitch, the Trojans honored their senior players—Aidyn Cratty, Logan Donnelly, and Andrew Zurn—in a heartfelt Senior Night ceremony. Each senior was escorted onto the field by parents and family members, greeted by cheers from teammates, coaches, friends, and fans who gathered to recognize their contributions to the program.
The game that followed was a hard-fought contest that kept the crowd on edge until the final out. Starting pitcher Andrew Zurn took the mound for the Trojans and faced early pressure as the Eagles led off with back-to-back singles. After recording an out at first and a strikeout, a ground ball to third resulted in an error that allowed two Boulder City runners to score. A lineout to center fielder Vinny Whitney ended the half inning with the Trojans trailing 2-0.
Pahrump wasted no time answering back. Tony Whitney led off with a double to right field, and Vinny Whitney’s groundout advanced him to third. Zurn then drove in the first Trojan run with a groundout to third. Aidyn Cratty singled to center and moved up on a wild pitch before Chris (CJ) Nelson drove him home on a hard grounder to second. Kayne Horibe followed with a single to left, but the inning ended with Ben Cimperman’s groundout to third. The Trojans had tied it up 2-2 after one inning of play.
The Trojans’ defense settled in during the second. Cratty fielded a grounder for the first out, followed by a walk and a lineout to Tony Whitney at second base. Another walk put two runners on, but a fly out to center field ended the threat.
Back at the plate, Pahrump kept the momentum going. Cody Fried singled to center, and Donnelly followed with a single of his own, advancing Fried to second. A lineout by Tony Whitney and an error on the second baseman allowed both runners to advance. Vinny Whitney drove in Fried with a single to center, and Zurn followed with a hit to left that brought in Donnelly. Although Vinny was caught stealing home during Cratty’s at-bat, Cratty walked to keep the inning alive. Nelson grounded out to short, ending the frame with the Trojans ahead 4-2.
Zurn and the defense made quick work of Boulder City in the top of the third, allowing just one baserunner on an error and ending the inning on an offensive interference call. But the Eagles returned the favor, holding the Trojans scoreless in the bottom half despite another single from Horibe.
In the top of the fourth, Boulder City loaded the bases with a single, a walk, and another single, but the Trojans turned a crucial double play—catching a fly ball in right and firing it home to tag the runner attempting to score, preserving their 4-2 lead.
Boulder City’s pitching tightened up in the bottom of the fourth, striking out two Trojans and forcing a fly out to retire the side. In the fifth, the Eagles capitalized on a hit-by-pitch, a single, and another hit to cut the deficit. With the bases loaded and two outs, a passed ball allowed the tying run to score, making it 4-4 before the Trojans could record the final out.
Pahrump was unable to regain the lead in the bottom of the fifth, going down in order. Both teams remained quiet through the sixth inning, setting the stage for a dramatic finish in the seventh.
Horibe took the mound in relief for the Trojans and got two quick outs after a walk and a sacrifice bunt. But a double to center brought home the go-ahead run for Boulder City. The Eagles now led 5-4. The Trojans had one last chance to rally in the bottom of the seventh but were retired in order, sealing the narrow loss.
Though the scoreboard favored Boulder City in the end, the evening was about more than just the final result. For Cratty, Donnelly, and Zurn, it was a night of reflection, recognition, and gratitude for the years spent representing Pahrump Valley High School. And for the Trojans as a team, it was a reminder of their fight and grit as they head toward the end of the season.
