Crusaders, Trojans set for 3A softball tourney
On paper, Faith Lutheran and Pahrump Valley should be meeting for the Class 3A Southern League softball title Saturday.
But the Crusaders and the Trojans first must make sure reality doesn't get in the way of what could be their sixth or seventh meeting of the season.
The teams, who split their two league doubleheaders, both finished 14-2 in league play during the regular season and are the top two seeds in the tournament, which will begin today at Boulder City High School.
Faith Lutheran, the No. 2 seed, will open against Virgin Valley in the double-elimination tournament. Pahrump Valley will face Boulder City.
"We have to take every game one at a time," Faith Lutheran coach Kelli McCoy said. "This is what they've worked the whole season for."
The tournament winner will advance to the state tournament in Reno.
The Crusaders have had timely hitting and solid pitching, led by Jessie Tracy, who has 180 strikeouts.
"This is the best-hitting team I've had in four years here," McCoy said. "Defensively, we keep getting stronger. We've gotten great senior leadership from Angie Miller, Jessie Tracy and Kelcie Hoover."
Needles, Calif., is the top seed in the Class 2A Southern League tournament, which will begin Friday at The Meadows.
Mountain View and Pahranagat Valley are No. 1 seeds at the Class 1A Southern Region tournament, which will start today at Mountain View.
The winner and runner-up in Class 1A and 2A will advance to state.
In baseball, Faith Lutheran is the No. 1 seed in the Class 3A tournament at Boulder City; Needles is the top seed in the Class 2A tournament at The Meadows; and Calvary Chapel and Pahranagat Valley are No. 1 seeds in the Class 1A tournament at Mountain View.
The top two teams in Class 1A and 2A will advance to the state baseball tournament, but only the region winner will advance in 3A.
• SIGNINGS -- Several area athletes made their college choices, including Valley boys basketball player Deante Jones, who signed with Texas Southern.
The 6-foot-7-inch Jones averaged 10 points and 13 rebounds for the Vikings.
Two Cheyenne girls basketball standouts also have signed. Raven Hicks, a 6-0 guard who averaged 14 points and eight rebounds, signed with Alabama State. Her teammate, 6-3 post player Ayoola Weaver, went the junior college route, signing with Central Arizona. Weaver averaged 10 points and nine rebounds.
A handful of Mountain View athletes signed with smaller schools. Girls basketball player Randall Van Kempen and baseball player Craig Sacra signed with Evangel University in Springfield, Mo.
Football player Evan Entler signed with Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minn., and girls basketball player Megan Smith signed with Lassen Community College in Susanville, Calif.
Faith Lutheran quarterback Max Done committed to play at the University of Redlands (Calif.). Done threw 18 for touchdowns as a senior and set the school's career TD passing record with 29.
