Victorious Durango loses outfielder Richardson for season

The good was a 12-2 home victory over Pahrump Valley in five innings.

The bad came when the Trailblazers learned talented senior outfielder D.J. Richardson will miss the rest of the season because a shoulder injury.

Richardson hurt the shoulder crashing into the outfield fence during a recent game. An examination showed a torn ligament that will require surgery.

The injury is unlikely to prevent Richardson from playing for the University of San Diego next year.

“It’s at least good to know she will recover and be able to keep her dreams alive of playing at the college level,” Durango coach Toni Del Toro said. “She won’t be out completely. She’s a baller and that would’ve crushed her.”

The Trailblazers (7-4, 2-0 Southwest) fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first inning on RBI doubles by Taylor Raymer and Rebecca Gamble, but answered with seven runs in the bottom. They sent 12 batters to the plate, highlighted by Nicole Herrera’s RBI single on an 11-pitch at-bat. Herrera finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs.

After the first inning, Pahrump (2-5, 0-2) was held hitless by Durango pitcher Ashley Hall, who also was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.

Hall had missed the last few games because of a pulled hamstring.

“I feel I can do better,” Hall said. “I started out kind of shaky, but I ended up coming through and got the strikeouts we needed.”

Del Toro said, “I was glad to see her pull through and that she was not only able to pitch, but to pitch hard through her injury.”