I-A SOFTBALL: Roderick pitches Trojans into title game

Good things come to those who wait.

The wait is finally paying off for Pahrump Valley’s four-year starter Whitney Roderick, who is pitching in her postseason debut.

Roderick spun a five-hitter with no earned runs, fanning 10 and walking one, to guide the Trojans to an 8-2 victory over Boulder City on Thursday in the winner’s bracket final of the Division I-A Southern Region softball tournament at Faith Lutheran.

Pahrump (22-13) will play in the Division I-A Southern Region championship game at noon Saturday at Faith Lutheran.

“Whit can go a 120 (pitches) every day if she has to,” Pahrump coach Eli Armendariz said. “If she’s sore or tired she’ll let me know, but in big games like this, she’s a trooper.”

Roderick consistently set up Boulder City’s hitters with a sharp inside riseball, and then used a wicked curveball to put them down.

“I was kind of worried that my arm was going to be sore and that it would slow me down a little bit,” Roderick said. “Whenever I hit a rocky spot, my team stood behind me, and I was really proud of them.”

The Trojans supplied early run support for their ace with a two-run homer to left field by Amanda Pryor in the first inning, and added two more runs in the third on an RBI double by Roderick and an unearned run to make it 4-0.

After Boulder City (24-6) got a run back, Pahrump padded its lead with a four-run sixth, keyed by a two-run single by freshman Lahela Kaiwi and and RBI single by Pryor.

Roderick and Kaiwi each finished with three hits for the Trojans, who got two hits and two stolen bases from Melanie Lawdensky.

The Eagles will play at 5 p.m. Friday at Faith Lutheran against either Tech (15-8) or Faith Lutheran (21-13). The Roadrunners and Crusaders meet at 3 p.m. Friday.

Tech 14, Virgin Valley 7 — Ashley Ramsey was 3-for-6 with two doubles and three runs, and the Roadrunners used a nine-run third inning to top the Bulldogs (11-21) in an elimination game.

Gizele Cascos tossed a complete game with seven strikeouts, one walk and three earned runs, and added two hits for Tech.

Jan Danica Briones provided a two-run bloop single, and the Roadrunners took advantage of five errors and two walks to break a 1-1 tie in the third.

Kimmie Rodriguez had two doubles and three runs for Tech.

Faith Lutheran 14, Cheyenne 5 — Alex Wright supplied a two-run homer and an RBI single to lead the Crusaders past the Desert Shields in an elimination game.

Mosie Foley had two hits for Faith Lutheran.

Taylor Cole and Jonnette Paddy had RBI singles for the Desert Shields (21-17-1).