The Pahrump Valley High School varsity baseball team opened league play in unforgettable fashion on Wednesday, March 25, grinding through 10 innings before walking off the Virgin Valley Bulldogs for a 5-4 victory at home.
In a game defined by timely defense, resilient pitching and clutch hitting, the Trojans stayed composed from the first inning to the final swing.
Virgin Valley came to the plate first, but Sammy Mendoza and the Trojans’ defense set the tone early. Anthony Montanez handled a ground ball at third for the first out, and after a single and a walk put runners on, Mendoza worked out of trouble with help from Montanez again on a fielder’s choice to end the inning scoreless.
The Trojans answered immediately in the bottom half. Tony Whitney drew a leadoff walk, and Montanez reached on an error to put two on base. Vinny Whitney executed a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position, setting up Ben Cimperman’s RBI double to center that brought home the game’s first run. The inning ended with Montanez stranded at third, but Pahrump held a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the second, the defense stayed sharp. Cody Fried secured a pop out in right field, Kayne Horibe tracked down a liner in center, and Tony Whitney finished the inning with a routine play at shortstop.
Pahrump extended its lead in the bottom of the second. Kevin Farrell singled, Dominic Chiancone followed with a double, and Tony Whitney came through with a two-run single to push the Trojans ahead 3-0.
The Bulldogs began to chip away in the third. A single and an error allowed a run to score, followed by a sacrifice fly that cut the lead to 3-2. Still, the Trojans limited further damage as Montanez recorded another defensive out to end the inning.
In the fourth, Mendoza continued to battle. He struck out one batter looking and got key help behind him from Vinny Whitney in left and Kayne Horibe in center on fly balls. However, Virgin Valley managed to tie the game at 3-3 on a single before the Trojans closed the inning with another clean out.
The Trojans threatened in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases after Montanez reached on an error, Vinny Whitney walked and Jacob Selbach was hit by a pitch. But back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning, keeping the game tied.
Tony Whitney took over on the mound in the fifth and delivered a strong defensive frame. Montanez made a heads-up play at shortstop to catch a runner stealing, and Whitney struck out two batters to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Trojans again found themselves with an opportunity but couldn’t capitalize, as a ground out ended the inning.
The sixth inning featured one of the game’s biggest defensive moments. After a leadoff double and a bunt put runners in scoring position, the Trojans erased a threat when Horibe, playing third base at the time, made a sharp play to pick off a runner at third. Whitney followed by working through the inning with a strikeout to keep the Bulldogs off the board.
Pahrump responded in the bottom half. Selbach reached and advanced, Fried singled, and Horibe delivered a clutch RBI single to right, scoring Selbach and giving the Trojans a 4-3 lead.
Virgin Valley answered again in the top of the seventh. A walk and a double allowed the Bulldogs to tie the game at 4-4, but the Trojans limited the damage with a pop out to Montanez to close the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Trojans went quietly, sending the game into extra innings.
That’s when Horibe took over on the mound—and took control.
In the top of the eighth, Horibe struck out the side, overpowering the Bulldogs. He followed with another strong ninth inning, recording a pop out to Fried in right, a ground out fielded cleanly by Tony Whitney at shortstop and a strikeout looking to keep the game tied.
The Trojans couldn’t push a run across in the bottom of the ninth, setting up a decisive 10th inning.
Horibe returned to the mound in the top of the 10th and delivered again, striking out all three batters he faced to give the Trojans one final chance. Over his three innings, he racked up seven strikeouts and allowed no runs.
“Kayne Horibe was massive both on the mound… and having a go-ahead two-out RBI in the sixth,” Head Coach Drew Middleton said.
In the bottom of the 10th, the Trojans capitalized.
Chiancone worked a leadoff walk, and Tony Whitney was hit by a pitch to put two runners on. Montanez stepped up once more, laying down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position.
Then came the finish.
Vinny Whitney delivered in the biggest moment of the night, lining a single to score Chiancone and seal the 5-4 walk-off victory.
“Vinny Whitney did a little bit of everything for us today,” Middleton said. “Laid down a bunt to move a runner, then later in the game came in clutch hitting a walk-off single. Awesome stuff.”
Middleton also pointed to areas where the team can continue to improve.
“The not so awesome stuff was we left way too many guys on base. 2nd and 3rd in the 1st. Guy on third in the second. Bases loaded 0 outs in the third. So many opportunities to take control of that game. We just couldn’t come through with the big hit.”
Despite these challenges, the Trojans’ solid pitching and defense carried them through.
“Pitching and defense was big today,” Middleton said. “We won a different style of game today… low scoring, gritty kind of game.”
From Mendoza’s early work, to Tony Whitney’s 3 huge middle innings, and Horibe’s dominant finish, the Trojans showcased depth and resilience in a game that tested every aspect of their play.
“At the end of the day, we’re 1-0 in league. That’s a good feeling.”
And with a walk-off win to open league play, the Trojans showed they can battle, adjust and finish—making it clear—they’re ready for the challenge ahead.
