Trojans nearly drain the Swamp against No. 6 Green Valley — PHOTOS
Coming into ‘the swamp’ on Tuesday, the Trojans had just about every opportunity to jump on top of junior starting pitcher Lucas Gutierrez despite the blistering heat.
But the Trojans would only amass three runs in 3.1 innings against the slow-hurling starter whose earned run average toppled over 11 last season in JV.
Ultimately falling 7-5 to the No. 6 ranked program in the state, the Gators (12-5) were able to close the door with a two-run home run to deep center in the fifth inning by junior Joseph Lush.
Tightly managed for the week’s league play against Virgin Valley, Trojans head coach Drew Middleton’s approach to Tuesday’s non-league contest was simple: treat it like a bullpen game.
And that he did.
The Trojans (8-6) saw five different arms throw at least a full inning between Vinny Whitney, Dominik Wilson, Tony Whitney, Jacob Selbach and Kayne Horibe.
Working through running themselves out of innings with runners in scoring position, the Trojans posted their biggest spot of the day (four) in the top of the fourth inning.
The inning opened with Trojans senior catcher Benny Cimperman being hit by a pitch from Gutierrez, putting a runner aboard with no outs.
Courtesy runner Dominic Chiancone entered and remained at first after junior Cody Fried lifted a fly ball to center field for the first out.
Momentum quickly shifted when Horibe stepped up and delivered a sharp line drive into right field for a triple, bringing Chiancone home and putting the Trojans’ offense on the board.
Horibe later came around to score as Wilson drew a walk after a lengthy at-bat, cutting further into the deficit.
The rally continued when junior Samuel Mendoza worked another walk following a pitching change, advancing Wilson into scoring position.
Junior Jacob Selbach followed with a walk, loading the bases while keeping the pressure on.
With one out, Tony Whitney contributed a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Wilson to tag and score while the remaining runners held their positions.
Trojans sophomore Anthony Montanez earned another walk to keep the inning alive, and during the next at-bat, chaos on the bases led to another run scoring on a passed ball by Gators junior Brady Cina.
Aggressive base running saw Selbach swipe third while Montanez moved into scoring position.
Senior Vinny Whitney then drew yet another walk, continuing a string of disciplined plate appearances that helped push the score to 5–4.
However, the inning finally came to a close when B. Cimperman returned to the plate for the second time in the inning, popping out to right field to end the rally.
Despite a few good plays in the field, the Trojans defense was not up to caliber as they committed four errors throughout.
Showing late life in the sixth inning, Pahrump Valley closed down the lead to two following an RBI single to shallow right field by Vinny Whitney that narrowed the gap to within two runs.
Pahrump Valley went down 1-2-3 to end the seventh, capping off a contest that was theirs to grab from the jump.
Vinny Whitney and Horibe led the sticks with two hits a piece and an RBI followed by Tony Whitney, who went 1-2 at the dish with an RBI.
“Winnable is an understatement,” head coach Drew Middleton said. “Green Valley wanted to be there even less than we did. And that’s saying something.”
Contact Jacob Powers at jpowers@pvtimes.com. Follow @jaypowers__ on X.
