By Mitchell Vareldzis

Early run support and a dominant pitching performance was exactly what Paradise Valley needed for a win on the road Tuesday.

The Paradise Valley Trojans (19-8 Overall) scored three in the first, one in the fourth and three in the seventh to defeat the McClintock Chargers (16-9-2 Overall) 7-1. The Trojans were led offensively by designated hitter Rhyse Dee, who went 3-4 with two singles, two runs scored and four RBIs, three of which came from his first-inning home run over the right field fence.

“I was ecstatic,” Dee said. “It was my first one. I was so excited and it was amazing.”

The starter for the Trojans, Tanner Solomon, had a couple of rough starts at the end of March and beginning of April, but Tuesday he was dominant.

He limited the Chargers lineup to one run on five hits and four walks. He also struck out four.

“(Tanner) did really well,” Dee said. “When he throws strikes he is effective.”

The first inning was what drove the game for the Trojans.

After Solomon and shortstop Alex Farrell reached base, Dee came to the plate with Solomon on third and Farrell on first. Dee then hit his home run into the bushes behind the right-field fence.

Despite allowing runs early, Chargers starter Jonah Wiley was able to recover and limit the Trojans to four runs until the seventh inning. In the seventh, Wiley was pulled after facing three batters, was unable to record an out and allowed his fifth run.

In the inning, Solomon walked. Solomon then advanced to second on a pass ball.

Farrell singled to right and Solomon advanced to third. Dee then singled to score Solomon and put runners on first and second.

George Lopez came in relief from shortstop, and his first pitch resulted in a 5-3 double play. Left fielder Jack Giese then singled Lopez’s second pitch to right, advancing Dee to third.

With some crafty base-running from Giese, Dee was able to score and Giese advance to second.

The inning ended two batters later.

With the playoffs starting in just a couple days, both teams are in contention and playing well enough to earn a spot. Chargers’ head coach Paul Mather said the team’s recent injuries to starting shortstop/pitcher Pete Lopez and third baseman/closer Mario Muñoz have spread the roster thin.

“We are scrambling to get in the playoffs,” Mather said. “We have been struggling offensively and a lack pitching depth.”

In the last three games, McClintock has been outscored 22-7. McClintock will finish its season Wednesday at home against the Tucson High Magnet School (14-8 Overall) at 3:45 p.m.

It will also be the Chargers’ seniors final game at McClintock. Paradise Valley will return home and play its final game against Tempe High (8-15-1) Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Mitchell Vareldzis is a sports journalism major at Arizona State.