Bulldogs Remain Undefeated Against Pirates, 11-1

By BOB SNELL

The Progress

The Virgin Valley High School softball team took care of business quickly and efficiently against rival Moapa Valley on Tuesday afternoon, April 18 at wind-swept Bulldog Diamond.

While VVHS pitcher Riley Price was silencing the Lady Pirates’ bats, Virgin Valley’s offense scored in every inning. The Lady Bulldogs recorded an 11-1 victory in a game shortened to five innings because of the mercy rule.

Virgin Valley has now won 25 consecutive games as it improved to 25-0 on the season. The loss dropped Moapa Valley to 8-6.

After Price struck out the side in the top of the first inning, the Lady Bulldogs put up a four spot in the bottom half of the frame.

Reggi Frei led off with a perfectly placed bunt single and promptly stole second base. Natalie Plancarte drew a walk and Brooklin Montoya followed by driving a pitch over the left-field fence into the wind for a home run. Three batters, three runs.

Later in the inning, Ana Tausinga would walk and eventually come around to score on a two-out double to left by Evia Toone to put VVHS up 4-0.

Virgin Valley added an unearned run in the second to go up 5-0. Frei hit a sharp groundball that was mis-played for an error that rolled all the way to the right-field fence. As Frei reached third base on the play, the relay throw was bobbled allowing her to race home without a throw.

Tausinga was hit by a pitch to lead off the third inning. Davie Slack laid down a sacrifice bunt with Tausinga alertly moving from first to third base where she would later score on a wild pitch to put VVHS up 6-0.

Meanwhile, Price was dealing inside the circle. The senior right-hander struck out five straight MVHS batters and seven of the first nine she faced.

The Lady Pirates finally broke through with one out in the top of the fourth inning. Andie Wood doubled to left field to break up the no-hitter and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wood scored when Kyndall Longman’s groundball was mis-played for an error.

Virgin Valley answered back scoring three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Julia Leavitt doubled, advanced to third on an error and scored on Frei’s groundout. Plancarte tripled and Montoya drew a walk. Plancarte would score on a wild pitch and Tausinga’s single scored courtesy runner Gracee Alejos to boost the lead to 9-1.

The Lady Bulldogs pushed across two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. A walk, fielder’s choice and an error put Ari Easton at third base and Leavitt at second. Both runners would eventually score on wild pitches to end the contest.

Price gave up just one hit, walked one and struck out 10 batters to notch the win.
The two teams will meet in a rematch at Moapa Valley on Thursday, May 4 at 3:30.

The Bulldogs hit the road this week to play Clark on Wednesday, Basic on Friday and Lincoln County on Saturday. Then they return home Monday, May 1 at 3:30 pm to face Canyon Springs.

The Pirates will travel to Sunrise Mountain on Wednesday, then host Clark on Monday at 3:30.