Pahranagat’s Brook Higbee covers first base and receives the toss from Cheyenne Harris on an infield bunt in the regional tournament. PVHS, the defending state champions, play in the state tournament this weekend in Reno. (Dave Maxwell photo)
Kennedy Huntsman tossed a five-inning one-hitter and struck out four Saturday to lead host Pahranagat Valley’s softball team to a 15-2 win over Indian Springs in the championship game of the Division IV Southern League tournament in Alamo..
Madison Harris was 3-for-3 with three doubles, and Cheyenne Harris had a three-run home run. Traci Strong was 2-for-2 with a double for the Panthers (22-4).
Megan Au’s first-inning single was the only hit for the Thunderbirds (9-9).
Both teams advance to the state tournament, May 22-24 in Reno.
Huntsman was a complete force for the Panther girls, the defending state champions, in the run through the regional tournament. She pitched every inning of every game, giving up only four total hits and not allowing more than two runs in any game, as PVHS overpowered their opponents.
Coach Mike Sparrow said, “We had put a little emphasis on getting better defensively this week, and talked about the little things that can get it done. The kids understood that and responded that way. Kennedy is getting into form and hit the spots on her pitches. She had a marvelous weekend, and Jamie (Hansen) behind the plate, did a fabulous job controlling that whole situation, and the defense played well behind us.”
The Panthers girls opened the tournament on Thursday, and despite having just five hits, took advantage of four walks and six hit batters by Sandy Valley to rout the Sidewinders 14-1 in five innings.
Huntsman tossed a two-hitter and struck out five.
PVHS opened with five in the first and scored eight in the second.
On Friday, Huntsman tossed a six-inning two-hitter with seven strikeouts, while hitting 2-for-3 with a triple, a double and an RBI to help Pahranagat to an 11-1 victory over Indian Springs in the winners’ bracket final of the tournament.
Madison Harris was 2-for-4 with a triple, a double and an RBI, and Bailee Hosier was 3-for-4 for Pahranagat Valley, including an inside-the-park home run off a bunt. It was her second such play of the season. In the fourth, she bunted the ball to the pitcher, who overthrew first base and the ball rolled all the way to the right field corner, the relay throw to third base was also off the mark, allowing Hosier to score.
Indian Springs then went on to eliminate Tonopah 10-3 to gain a spot in the championship.
The state tournament began in Reno Thursday with Indian Springs playing Northern champion Eureka (24-1), and Pahranagat facing Wells (17-5), the No. 2 seed from the North.
