Bulldogs Outlast Pirates, 1-0

By DAVE BELCHER

The Progress

What a way for the regular season to end! An epic rivalry matchup with the winner getting the regular season Desert League title and also scooping up the top seed in the region tournament all in one game.

The Virgin Valley High School Baseball team came to Moapa Valley to play the Pirates on Thursday, May 5. After playing an extra inning, the Bulldogs captured the narrow win, 1-0.

That gives the Dawgs the first seed in the Desert League and the home team advantage as they host their regional tournament games this week, as long as they win.

Moapa Valley, as the second seed will host in the tournament up until they go up against a higher seed team. Then they will have to travel.

For seven innings, the Bulldogs and Pirates circled one another frame after frame; keeping one another scoreless.

It was a duel of the pitchers and both teams were strong on the mound. Bryce Intagliata started for the Bulldogs allowing seven hits and striking out six in the first six innings. Kyler Sudweeks came in for relief in the seventh inning allowing no hits in the final two innings.

Rylan Evans started on the mound for the Pirates. In a little more than 5 innings, Evans allowed only three hits, striking out 9. Evans was relieved in the sixth inning by Austin Heiselbetz who finished out allowing 3 hits and 2 strikeouts.

By the top of the 8th inning, the score was tied at 0-0. Jared Jensen singled to start the inning for the Dawgs. Aidan Litzenberger bunted trying to move Jensen to second base. But Jensen was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice.

Drake Wakefield then hit a drive to right field. A fielding error then allowed Jensen to round the bases and score the go-ahead run when the throw to the plate was late. That was enough to win the game.

The Pirates made a valiant effort in the bottom of the frame. But Sudweeks induced a double-play line drive hit by Tahj Totten to Bulldog 2nd baseman Litzenberger who made a quick toss to shortstop Mason Montoya for the double play, finishing off the game in dramatic style.

“We were playing for a homerun in the seventh and eighth inning because we had to win by 2 to get the #1 seed in the region tournament” said MVHS head coach Justin Williams. “I still feel like we are in a great spot with our depth in pitching.”
“These young men have really grown together this season,” Williams added. “We are extremely excited for this upcoming week.”

VVHS Head Coach Dan Wright said that the razor-close outcome of the game seemed fitting given the long-standing rivalry between the stwo chools
“Quite frankly it’s exactly what I expected it to be for an important game at the end of the season,” Wright said.

Both coaches felt it was a playoff type atmosphere as a large crowd from both valleys showed up to watch the game.
“I am very proud of our team”, said Wright. “The way we battled through, right to the very end; and that we were able to pull the win out. Bryce Intagliata threw a great game for us.”
Virgin Valley finished with five hits in the game while the Pirates had seven.

Landon Wrzesinski led the Pirates with two hits. Jensen and Intagliata had two hits apiece for the Bulldogs.
Virgin Valley left this final regular season game with a 10-0 league record. Moapa Valley is 8-2 in league play.

The first round of the regional playoffs started on Monday with the Bulldogs hosting Western on Monday at 4pm. The Pirates host Eldorado Monday also at 4PM. Keep an eye on mvprogress.com for daily updates on each playoff game.