Seniors run bases one last time, Trojans rout Canyon Springs in home finale — PHOTOS
For seniors Kayne Horibe, Leland Delgado, Vinny Whitney, Jack Walker, Dominik Wilson Dominic Chiancone and Tristan Brown, Tuesday’s non-league contest vs. Canyon Springs marked the last time the boys will step up to the plate on their home turf.
It was also fitting that seniors Horibe, Whitney and Wilson combined for a no-hitter on the mound against the visitors.
The Trojans lit up the Pioneers’ pitching like a town hall Christmas tree as they banged up Canyon Springs relief pitcher Caleb Worthy for seven hits and nine runs en route to their 10-0 mercy through five innings.
Pahrump Valley ( 13-13, 5-3 Class 3A Southern Mountain League) put the game away early and never let Canyon Springs get a foothold.
The Trojans erupted for six runs in the second inning and rode the dominant outings from their seniors’ final outings on the bump in Pahrump.
Pahrump Valley quickly jumped on the board as sophomore CJ Nelson lined an RBI single down the left-field line, scoring Tony Whitney.
Vinny Whitney followed with a run-producing fielder’s choice to center field, and junior Ben Cimperman added an RBI single on a fly ball to center to make it 3-0.
An inning later, the Trojans broke the floodgates open for good.
Sophomore INF Anthony Montanez started the surge with an RBI double to right field that scored T. Whitney.
Hitting the double celebration on the bag for his second extra base hit of year, Nelson followed by delivering again with another run-scoring double that traded places with Montanez.
Montanez had quite the breakout season at the plate this year, posting a .364 batting average through 66 qualifying at-bats.
He is tied in hits with Cimperman, who also paced the program with 24 total base hits.
Horibe provided the biggest swing of the day, driving a triple into the center field gap to bring home two runs, Nelson and V. Whitney.
Another run crossed during the inning before junior Jacob Selbach capped the rally with an RBI single on a ground ball to right, stretching the lead to 9-0.
Pahrump Valley added the final run they needed in the bottom of the third when senior Jack Walker came charging into home following a passed ball.
That was more than enough for the Trojans’ pitching staff.
Horibe struck out five over two hit-less innings to start the game, while Wilson and V. Whitney followed with scoreless relief appearances to complete the combined no-hitter.
Pahrump Valley finished with 10 hits, with Nelson collecting two in two at-bats.
Horibe and Nelson each drove in a pair of runs for the club.
Post-game honors
Following their mercy of the Pioneers, the seniors and their families were invited out onto the field to hit a pitch from their parents and run around Rod Poteete field’s bases for the last time of their Trojan careers.
“Family and tradition are really big elements for me. That’s what has driven me to make these senior events such a big deal,” Trojans head coach Drew Middleton said. “It is a big deal, and I want to create memories that these seniors and their families will cherish the rest of their lives.”
Contact Jacob Powers at jpowers@pvtimes.com. Follow @jaypowers__ on X.
