SMALL SCHOOLS: Pitching leads Panthers to another 1A crown

RENO — It’s hard to overestimate just how important pitching is in high school baseball.

For Pahranagat Valley on Saturday, the man on the mound made all the difference, even on offense.

The Panthers lost 8-3 to Virginia City in the first game, but Tyler Higbee and Kade Wadsworth combined on a three-hitter in the second game as the Panthers beat the Muckers 10-0 to claim the Class 1A state title at UNR’s Peccole Park.

“Pitching is the name of  the game,” Pahranagat Valley coach Brad Loveday said. “And they’re great pitchers, both of them.”

The Panthers went to freshman Paden Higbee in the first game, and Virginia City (18-13) hit him hard, jumping out to a 7-0 lead through three innings.

“We threw a freshman, and he just struggled early hitting his spots and fell behind in counts,” Loveday said.

With Tyler Higbee on the mound in the second game, the Panthers (16-10) were a different team.

Tyler Higbee, who threw a complete game on Friday, threw four innings and allowed all three hits, struck out three and walked two.

“He’s strong, strong as a bull and he was ready,” Loveday said. “His arm wasn’t sore at all, and he was ready to go.”

Wadsworth, who pitched a complete game on Thursday, threw a scoreless fifth to secure the win, striking out the final two batters.

“They’re both our horses, Tyler and Kade,” Loveday said.

Wadsworth was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs in the final game, and was 6-for-8 on the day.

Derek Hansen was 3-for-3 with two runs and four RBIs, including a two-run homer over the left-field fence in the fourth.

“It went a long ways,” Loveday said. “He’s a big strong boy … well a big, strong man. He’s usually a line-drive hitter, but he caught that one.”

It was the third consecutive baseball title for the Panthers, who now have won all three major boys sport titles in each of the last three seasons.

“To go out winning nine in a row like they have consecutive is just amazing,” Loveday said. “It really is.”

CLASS 3A

Steven Baker and Tony Buranzon combined on a four-hitter as Truckee defeated Elko 2-1 to claim the Class 3A state title at UNR.

Baker and Buranzon combined to strike out 12 for Truckee (29-6). Elko (24-10) defeated Truckee 8-4 earlier Saturday to force a deciding game.

CLASS 2A

Yerington (30-6-1) won the Class 2A state title with a 5-2 win over Pershing County (24-13) and a 6-4 win in the finale at Lovelock.