Dave Maxwell:
Hannah Castleton tries to escape a tag during a win over Indian Springs. However, the Lady Panthers won the doubleheader with the Thunderbirds to earn their sixth consecutive 1A Southern League title.
A doubleheader win over visiting Indian Springs April 26 wrapped up the league championship for the Pahranagat Valley High School (PVHS) girls softball team. They topped the Lady Thunderbirds 15-4 and 18-10.
It’s the sixth consecutive league title for Coach Mike Sparrow. The Lady Panthers are also the six-time league tournament champions and six-time defending state champions.
The four-team league playoffs will be May 9-11 at Indian Springs.
Gamechanger.com reported PVHS got only four hits in the game, but made the most of it to take a commanding early lead.
A home run by Rebecca Taylor, an error, a stolen base by Hannah Castleton, a stolen base by Taylor Higbee, additional RBI hits by Kaitlyn Higbee, Morgan Harris, Kami Sterling and Jessica Brede, plus another error helped account for a nine-run first inning and a 9-2 lead.
Mariah Zander (10-2) was the winning pitcher for PVHS. She allowed one hit and four runs in five innings, struck out seven and gave up 10 walks.
Faith Prine took the loss for Indian Springs. She went four innings, allowing 15 runs on four hits, struck out seven and walked seven.
In the second game, the Lady Panthers grabbed an early lead 11-5 in the third inning.
After giving up three runs to the Thunderbirds in the first inning, PVHS got six of their own via an error, stolen bases by Brede and Castleton and RBI singles from Stirling.
In the third inning, Pahranagat scored four more runs comprised of a two-run double by Brede, an RBI single by Kaitlyn Higbee and a steal of home plate by Stirling.
The girls had a five-run outburst in the bottom of the sixth inning for an 18-9 lead, but they couldn’t get that next run in for the 10-run rule.
Zander (11-2) again earned the win for the Lady Panthers. She pitched a complete game, gave up 10 runs on nine hits, struck out 10 and walked seven.
Prine started for Indian Springs (6-12, 3-3). She gave up three runs on one hit, one walk and no strikeouts.
Aubree Young came on in relief in the second inning and finished the game. She gave up three runs and one walk and no strikeouts.
Pahranagat Valley banged out 17 hits in the game. Zander and Taylor both had three hits each.
The girls were also credited with 16 stolen bases.
On Tuesday, at Lake Mead, a nine-run seventh inning lifted Pahranagat Valley to an 18-9 win.
Winning pitcher Mariah Zander (12-2) went 4-for-5 with five RBIs.
Rebecca Taylor was 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBIs, and Alexa Lee was 2-for-3 with a double for the Lady Panthers.
Lola Mendoza was 2-for-2, and Brisa Fuller was 1-for-2 with a triple for Lake Mead (7-8).
PVHS (17-2, 4-0) finished the regular league season on Wednesday this week as they hosted Tonopah (4-10-1, 3-3) in a double header May 1.
Sandy Valley, who had been scheduled for May 3, has cancelled the remainder of their season.
The 1A Southern League playoffs will bge May 9-11 at Indian Springs. NIAA admission prices will apply.
