The Pershing County High School softball team made it to the state softball championship at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas last weekend.
They played as the No. 2 team in the Northern 2A League.
Friday started with a 15-0 loss for Pershing County against the eventual champions, Needles, Calif., the No. 1 team in the Southern 2A.
“We lost big time in our first game. We had to win the next two games against The Meadows and Yerington to go to the state championship game. The girls kept their heads, pulled through and did it. Taylor Garland pitched and Aaliyah Allen caught every game. They were exhausted but never gave up,” coach Jordan McKinney said.
Pershing County and The Meadows battled with the Mustangs coming out on top 13-3.
It was a season-ending loss for Meadows.
Next, Pershing County chased the Yerington Lions back to their den by handing them their second loss of the day. The Lions were a formidable opponent all season.
Pershing County went 0-3 against them in the regular season but beat them twice in the postseason, once at the regional tournament and once at state.
Yerington pulled ahead to win the regional championship but Pershing County tested their mettle.
Pershing County beat Yerington and kept its season alive, advancing to the state championship game. They’d have to beat Needles twice to win the title.
On Saturday, the softball gods smiled on Needles.
They blanked Pershing County 10-0 and won the state championship.
The game ended in the fifth inning with Needles umping and cheering on the softball field. Pershing County brought home the runner-up trophy.
It was the last high school sports game for Bela Rosas and Kassandra Swindlehurst. Aledda Sam, Sidonie Cassoret and Gabriella Denaldi also graduate next month.
“I will miss my seniors tremendously, but our future is bright because the team is very young. Being sophomore heavy is a benefit for us the next few years,” McKinney said.
The sophomores included Taylor Garland, Anna Happy, Kaylah Hanley, Mady Grenz, KayLee Poffenroth and Yasmine McKinney.
Freshmen Aaliyah Allen and Raegan Burrows added sparkle and talent to the team. Marya Burke, Kaylen Halverson, Andrea Canchola and Marina Corcuera may return as seniors next spring.
“I have a lot of girls that want to put in some work during the postseason and that is promising as well,” McKinney said. “My girls did not have any quits this weekend, and for that I am most proud.”
