Pirates Win Against VVHS Rivals

By BOB SNELL

The Progress

A perfectly executed squeeze bunt turned out to be the game winner as Moapa Valley defeated rival Virgin Valley, 6-4, on Thursday, May 6 at Bulldog Field in Mesquite.

With the game knotted at 4-4 in the top of the seventh inning, Rylan Evans and Gavin Hadley drew walks for the Pirates and advanced a base on a wild pitch.

One out later, sophomore Chandler Evans stepped to the plate. With Rylan Evans breaking home from third base, the younger Evans dropped a bunt on the grass along the third-base side. With no chance to get the runner at the plate, the throw to first hit the runner and caromed away allowing Hadley to also score putting Moapa Valley up 6-4.

“We work on that (squeeze) every single day in practice,” MVHS head coach Justin Williams said. “Chandler did a great job on getting the bunt down. I knew he could do it.”

The Pirates had to sweat out the bottom half of the inning before they could celebrate, however.
The Bulldogs made things interesting by loading the bases with two outs. Shawn Anderson stroked a single to left field on the 110th and final pitch thrown by Hadley, who had to leave the mound because of the NIAA mandatory pitch count rule.

Tyler Jensen greeted Pirate reliever Tyson Staheli with a single to right and Jared Jensen drew a walk to load the bases. Following a quick visit to the mound by Williams, Staheli settled down and struck out the final batter looking to clinch the victory and earn the save for Hadley.
“I had all the confidence in Tyson to get that last out,” Williams said.

Hadley turned in a solid start for the Pirates. The senior right-hander gave up eight hits, walking one and hitting two batters while striking out nine.

“I really wanted to see Gavin go the distance,” Williams said. “It’s his senior year and throwing against our rival. He’s a super gritty guy and has been a team leader. He did a great job.”

Trailing 4-0, Virgin Valley struck for four runs in the bottom of the fourth. Kurt Felix reached safely on a strike out and wild pitch. Anderson was hit by a pitch and Tyler Jensen beat out a ground ball for an infield single to load the bases.

Jared Jensen was hit by a pitch to force in Felix from third and Marty Jordan’s ground ball was bobbled allowing Anderson to score. Stratton Waite grounded into a fielder’s choice to score the third run and Bryce Intagliata’s single drove in the tying run.

The Pirates scored twice in the top of the first. Rylan Evans’ single brought in Gunner Redd, who was hit by a pitch leading off the game, and Hadley’s ground out scored Staheli, who had singled.

Moapa Valley added two more runs in the third. Rylan Evans and Hadley drew walks and Dane Overson followed with an RBI single. Chandler Evans’ sacrifice fly to right plated the second run.

Felix started for the Bulldogs and threw four innings allowing four hits, two walks, two hit batters and recording five strike outs. Anderson threw the final three innings giving up two hits while walking two and striking out four.

The Bulldogs had several scoring chances but failed to capitalize, stranding 11 base runners in the contest, including leaving the bases loaded in the fifth and seventh inning. They also had three base runners thrown out trying to steal.