Bulldogs squeak by Pahrump in extra-inning victory

By VERNON ROBISON

The Progress

It was a nail-biter of a finish on Tuesday night as the Virgin Valley High School pulled a walk-off victory over Pahrump in a hard-fought second round of the NIAA South Regional Tournament.

The score was tied at sevens with the Bulldogs batting in the bottom of the ninth. The bases were loaded. That is when Stratton Waite drew a walk scoring one run that won the game.

It was a rocky start for the Dawgs. The Trojans jumped out to a 3-run lead in the top of the 1st inning. The Bulldogs were able to close that gap with two runs in the bottom of that frame. Then the two teams circled each other, scoreless, for three innings.

Pahrump sparked to life in the fifth inning scoring 4 runs and holding the Bulldogs scoreless in the inning.

But the Virgin Valley team was far from done. The Dawgs put up 4 runs in the sixth inning, led by the bats of Bryce Intagliata, Drake Wakefield, Jared Jensen and Chandon Jensen; all of whom drove in runs during the inning. That brought the score to 7-6, Trojans.

But the Bulldogs managed to tie things up in the seventh inning. Mason Montoya made it home on a wild pitch sending the game into extra innings.

A scoreless 8th inning set up for Waite’s epic walk that put the Bulldogs up by one run to end the ninth inning and win the game.

The Bulldogs and Trojans matched each other in hitting with 7. Intagliata led the Bulldogs with two hits in 4 at-bats and 1 RBI. Getting one hit apiece were Kurt Felix, Kyler Sudweeks, Montoya, Wakefield and Braden Harris.

Waite was the winning pitcher going five innings and allowing 3 runs while striking out 3. Intagliata pitched the first four innings striking out 8 and allowing 4 hits.

The Bulldogs and the Pirates will now face off again on Wednesday in a rivalry game for the ages. The two teams will play the third round of the Regional competition in the Dawg Pound beginning at 4 pm.