Trojans softball had already won the league championship going into the game, for Mojave already had lost two games, but since it was the last league game it was fitting that the girls celebrate after beating the second-place team on May 4, 10-0.
The Trojans beat Mojave at home behind solid hitting and a two-run homer by Jordan Egan and a solo home run by Jill Smith.
“It was my 11th home run but really I just want to focus on hitting RBIs and the whole team getting to state,” senior Jordan Egan said. She said the offense and defense were peaking at the right time. She was referring to the state record for most home runs in the season at 20, by Michelle Palaroan of Reed High School in 1991.
Smith said that was her second home run of the year.
“I think we are on a good streak right now,” she said.
Trojans coach Eli Armendariz agrees with his players.
“We are looking good, but we need to work on the mental errors,” he said. “We just need to make sure we don’t make any in the playoffs.”
If the girls can do that, they have a good chance of having the home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
“Having the home field advantage is big and should help us out,” Armendariz said.
Although the Trojans overpowered Mojave, the score was only 5-0 at the end of the fourth. They didn’t explode for another five until the sixth inning.
This was the first league championship since 2008. The Lady Trojans have made the playoffs in 2016, 2014 and 2013. Their last state championship was in 2005 and their last state tourney appearance was in 2008 as well.
In their last game of the regular season in non-league action, Pahrump Valley beat Durango 25-5, a third-place team in Class 4A. In that game, Jill Smith hit two more home runs, Jackie Stobbe hit one and Terrena Martin had a double.
“I never thought of Smith as being a power hitter,” Armendariz said. “She has always been a great athlete.”
After the game, the girls put the year on their sign that lists all the league championships on the wall on the back of the field. The team posed for a photo and then went and celebrated with the baseball team who also won their league championship.
The Lady Trojans hosted Chaparral on Tuesday, which was past deadline and will play an unknown opponent on Wednesday if they win their Tuesday game.
The tournament is not a single-elimination tournament, and the Trojans win or lose will continue playing on Wednesday. If they lose there is a loser bracket.
Contact sports editor Vern Hee at vhee@pvtimes.com