SMALL-SCHOOL SOFTBALL: Taylor, Panthers bash way into Division IV Southern League final

Madalyn Taylor went 4-for-4 with a home run and a double Friday to lift host Pahranagat Valley’s softball team to an 18-5 win over Tonopah in five innings in the winners’ bracket final of the Division IV Southern League tournament.

Kaitlyn Davis was 3-for-4 with a homer and a double, and Brook Higbee homered and doubled for the Panthers (22-7), who secured a berth in the Division IV state tournament.

Madison Harris went 2-for-3, and Karley Whipple doubled twice for Pahranagat Valley.

Lexy Bayne homered for the Muckers.

Indian Springs 16, Round Mountain 6 — Aspen Avery homered and combined with Hannah Thormahlen on a three-hitter as the Thunderbirds downed the Knights (11-12) in six innings in an elimination game.

Hannah Prine also homered for Indian Springs, which had just four hits.

Indian Springs 8, Tonopah 2 — Thormahlen went 3-for-4 with a home run as the Thunderbirds clinched a state tournament berth by downing the Muckers in the losers’ bracket final.

Halle Jackson also homered for Indian Springs (15-5), which will face Pahranagat Valley for the region title at 10 a.m. Saturday and must beat the Panthers twice to win the double-elimination tournament.

Lauren Klapper and Alyssa Newell homered for Tonopah (10-13).

DIVISION III

Winning pitcher Josie Burgess homered to help Lincoln County to a 10-4 win over Needles in the winners’ bracket final of the Division III Southern League tournament at Laughlin.

Lincoln County (23-8) will meet Needles (21-15) again Saturday for the league title. The Lynx need to win only once, but Needles must win twice to take the title. Both teams will advance to the state tournament.

Brenna Chavez was 4-for-4 with a double, and Jayce Fragoso homered for Needles.

White Pine 19, Lake Mead 4 — Britney Kingston was 3-for-4 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and a double as the Bobcats routed the Eagles (13-9) in five innings in an elimination game.

Ashlyn Huntington tripled twice for White Pine, which led 16-2 after two innings.

Needles 9, White Pine 4 — Kourtni Fletcher scattered nine hits and struck out nine to lead the Mustangs over the Bobcats (17-9) in the losers’ bracket final.

Kingston struck out nine in a losing effort for White Pine.