On April 1, 2022, the Virgin Valley Bulldogs played a home game at 3:30 pm against the Sunrise Mountain Miners. After a defeat against the Clark High School Chargers on March 31, 2022, the Dawgs rose to the top against the Miners with an end score of 11-0. This victory was their first 3A South Mountain League matchup and win. Their season record improved to 10-5.
The first inning ended with a score of 3-0 which began the victorious game for the Bulldog Boys. Kyler Sudweeks (#19) with an amazing hit managed to get a home run, bringing Kurt Felix (#6) and himself home. On defense, pitcher Bryce Intagliata (#1) struck out SMHS Miners #20, #15, and #14 with a quick 3 Ks (strikeouts) for the inning.
In the second inning, Jared Jensen (#11) hits a triple sending Cameron Perkins (#3) home. After two strikeouts and an outfield pop fly catch, the Ball Dawgs sent the Miners back to the field with no hits.
The third inning proved to be the longest and most intense of the game. The Virgin Valley coaches decide to switch up the pitcher to Martin Jordan (#7). Jordan is currently at the top of the team’s earned run average with a 0.68 ERA. The catcher, Joey Kazek (#12), would stay in the same position for the whole game.
Once again, three outs by strikeout were quickly achieved and the teams switched. Martin Jordan hits a pop fly the opposing team’s outfield fails to catch. With two outs already on the scoreboard, Bryce Intagliata hits the ball far out in the field. Bryce books it to first where he quickly catches up to Chandon Jensen (#28) and they make it to third and second base. These players make it home with a hit made by Jared Jensen. Sunrise Mountain decides to switch the pitcher who pitches for the rest of the game. Kurt Felix then hits a triple bringing Jensen home to end the inning 11-0.
The last two innings of the game went by quickly. Martin Jordan pitched once and for all with an amazing three strikeouts. The Dawgs did not get any homes this inning.
The fifth and final inning ended the game with Jared Jensen pitching two strikeouts and the opposing team getting a tag out. Jensen ended the game as a team leader in win-loss percentage with 1.000. Jensen also offensively knocked in 3 RBIs and batted .667 for the game. The inning never made it to the second half as Sunrise Mountain did not score.
Intagliata had the best stats in the game with a .447 batting average, .556 on-base percentage, and a 1.000 fielding percentage. The Dawgs currently place second in the 3A South Mountain League with a 1-0 League Record, Moapa Valley taking the lead. If they continue to play with the same resiliency and strive, the team has a chance in placing first!
The Virgin Valley Baseball boys face the Eldorado Sundevils at their field in Las Vegas on April 5, 2022, at 3:30 p.m.
