Pahrump remains in playoff race despite Friday’s loss

The Lady Trojans got pounded by Spring Valley on Friday on the road 11-1 with the Grizzlies getting back at Pahrump for their only loss earlier in the season, where the Trojans downed them 3-2. The team then got their frustrations out at Desert Pines (1-21 overall, 0-11 Sunrise League) in non-league action on Saturday, beating up on them 21-5.

In the first game, poor defense led to the loss, according to Trojans coach Eli Armendariz.

“We hit the Spring Valley ( 15-3, 9-1 Sunset League) pitcher,” he said, “but we were sporadic and didn’t put the hits together. Our defense let us down. We made too many mistakes and we can’t do that against a good team.”

The win put Spring Valley one game ahead of Sierra Vista and Faith Lutheran in the Sunset League.

Regardless of the conference loss, the Trojans (13-7, 7-3 ) are still the fourth place seed for the playoffs, but Armendariz is not saying his team has a playoff berth sewn up. (In softball the top four teams go to a regional tournament.)

“If we lose to Faith Lutheran (21-6, 8-2) and Sierra Vista (16-4, 8-2), then Mojave (8-6, 4-6) has a chance of catching us,” the coach said. “But we would have to lose those games and then lose to them.”

Of course if Pahrump were to take both or just one of those games against the Mountain Lions or the Crusaders, they could improve in the standings.”

The team played Sierra Vista on Tuesday, which was past deadline. He said the key to winning that game was better defense.

“Better defense will allow us to stay close,” Armendariz said. “I am not seeing a lot of hits off of their pitcher so our defense needs to be good.”

Trojans softball has three more League games to go. They are at Cheyenne (3-8, 2-8) on Thursday, at Mojave on Monday and at home for their last home game against the Crusaders on Wednesday.