Bulldog ace Riley Price delivers a strike-out ball in Friday’s 17-0 win over Elko. (Photo: Lou Martin)

Virgin Valley High School, Mesquite, NV-

Friday, March 4 –

Virgin Valley High School put the hurt on the visiting Elko High School Indians by scores of 17-0 and 20-9 in a doubleheader Friday afternoon in the Dawg Pound. VVHS Bulldogs take on the Elko Indians in a doubleheader to open season. It was a highly anticipated season opener as the Bulldogs take on the Indians from Elko. With Riley Price on the mound, VVHS Bulldogs shuts out Elko. Price threw a shutout to lead the Bulldogs past Elko 17-0 of the first of two contests.

Bulldog leadoff batter Reggi Frei got the first hit and run of the 2022 season.  Frei surprised Elko with a perfect bunt over the charging Indian pitcher to reach first base. The next Bulldog batter laid down another bunt single advancing Frei to third base who scored on a steal of second and error at home plate.

The Dawgs scored 5 runs in the first inning, 7 runs in the third, and 5 runs in the fourth and final innings. Leading the way for the Bulldogs were Brooklyn Montoya and Ana Tausinga with home runs and two hits for the game. Price only allowed four hits in the shutout win.

Ana Tausinga led the Bulldogs to victory by driving in five runs. Tausinga went 2-3 at the plate. Tausinga drove in runs on a single in the first and a grand slam in the second.

VVHS Varsity Bulldogs opened up scoring in the first inning when Brooklyn Montoya drew a walk, scoring one run. Reggie Frei and Natalie Plancarte were both on-base from a single and a bunt respectively. Montoya walked and Frei stole home. The Bulldogs had their whole lineup bat in the first inning and ended it with three runs.

The Bulldogs notched seven runs in the second inning. The offensive firepower by the Bulldogs was led by Tausinga and Hali Jackson, who each had RBIs in the inning.

Two Bulldogs, Tausinga and Montoya, let Elko know they were there to play some ball when they each took one over the fence, with the bases loaded! Both girls started off the season with a grand slam and the fans and players were fired up.

The Bulldogs racked up ten hits in the game. Tausinga, Montoya, and Plancarte all managed multiple hits for the Bulldogs, but the whole lineup took charge at the plate.

The Bulldogs were sure-handed and didn’t commit a single error. Montoya made the most plays with eight and Price earned the win for the game. Price surrendered zero runs on four hits over four innings, striking out seven.

The second contest between the two teams was just as exciting. The Bulldogs snatched the lead late in the game in a 20-9 victory over Elko. The Bulldogs were down 9-8 in the bottom of the fourth inning with Ana Tausinga homered on a 2-0 count, scoring four runs. It was her second grand slam for the night.

Tausinga led the Bulldogs to victory by driving in five runs. Tausinga went 3-4 at the plate by driving in runs on a single in the third and the grand slam in the fourth.

The Bulldogs got their offense started when Riley Price hit a double bringing in Brooklyn Montoya after she also hit a double. The dogs took the lead for good with ten runs in the fourth inning. In the fourth Montoya was hit by a pitch, driving in a run, Price drew a walk, scoring one run, Reggi Frei singled on a 3-1 count scoring two runs and Plancarte doubled on a 2-1 count scoring two runs.

Frei led things off on the rubber for the Bulldogs. She allowed zero hits and six runs over three and a third innings, striking out three.

The Bulldogs closed out the game with a total of fifteen hits. Price, Frei, Tausinga, and Plancarte all collected multiple hits for the Bulldogs. Tausinga, Frei, and Price each collected three hits to lead the Bulldogs.

This young team came out and played some exciting softball and kept the fans whooping and hollering the whole night. The second game of the day found the Dawgs winning 20-9 behind starter Reggi Frei and reliever Riley Price. The Lady Dawgs next home game will be on Tuesday against Parowan (Utah).

*This article was a combination of articles by Lou Martin and Kristi Tausinga.