HORACE LANGFORD JR. / PVT Nick Stearns runs for Pahrump Valley in the Rotary Invitational Friday. Wednesday, the Trojans competed in a tri-meet in Las Vegas against Sierra Vista and Henderson Green Valley. The Trojans return to action April 25 in the Ron Resler Invitational at Boulder City. Advertisement

LAS VEGAS -- After getting picked apart in a 9-0 first-game loss, the Pahrump Valley fast-pitch softball team responded with a 12-5 victory to earn a split in a Southern Nevada Class A League doubleheader at Faith Lutheran Tuesday.

The split enabled both teams to claim a share of the league lead; both went 7-1 in the first half of the 16-game schedule that concludes in early May.

In baseball, however, the Trojans had their problems against defending league, regional and state champion Faith Lutheran, bowing 5-3 and 8-2 Tuesday. Pahrump Valley fell to 4-4 in the league, with the Crusaders now at 5-1.

Pahrump Valley returns to league competition Tuesday in baseball and softball twin bills at Boulder City, starting at 3:30 p.m.

Jessie Tracy pitched a three-hit, nine-strikeout shutout against Pahrump Valley in the softball opener. In the second game, the Trojans erupted for 13 hits, including three in two-thirds of an inning off Tracy, who pitched in relief in the seventh inning. One of PV's hits was Christine Gamble's third home run of the season.

Pahrump Valley was 19-5 in all games, when coach Preston Dockter's team hosted River Valley, Ariz., in a non-league doubleheader Tuesday.

The baseball Trojans were stymied offensively by veteran pitchers Tyler Iodence and Matt Buchanan, who limited them to a total of 13 hits in 14 innings. Sam Morrow, Danny Cazier and Corey Veloz didn't get hit hard, but Faith Lutheran took advantage of what opportunities it had to earn a sweep that kept the Crusaders atop the league.

* Pahrump Valley's track team was in a grueling tri-meet against Class 4-A Henderson Green Valley and Las Vegas Sierra Vista Wednesday. The Trojan boys compiled just 33 points, while Green Valley's Gators scored 96 1/2 and Sierra Vista's Mountain Lions garnered 54 1/2.

In the girls meet, Pahrump Valley had 43 points, with Green Valley at 99 and Sierra Vista 44.

Scoring for Pahrump Valley's boys were:

* Sergio Castro, second, 200-meter dash, 0:23.1;

* Kyle Mills, first, high jump, 5 feet, 10 inches; first, long jump, 20-10, and first, triple jump, 42-3 1/2;

* Eric Chapman, second, pole vault, 10-6.

Recording points for the Lady Trojans were:

* Ashley Lindgren, first, 200, 0:26.4; first, 400, 1:03.2; second, long jump, 15-3 1/2.

* McKenzie Dean, first, 1600, 5:46; first, 3200, 12:14.

* 4x400 relay, second, 4:50.9.

* Stephanie Manley, second, triple jump, 30-1 1/2.

* Ashley Rencher, first, shot put, 34-2; first, discus, 95-9.

Pahrump Valley's track team is idle until April 25, when the Trojans compete in the Ron Resler Invitational at Boulder City. The Trojans are in The Meadows Invitational May 3 to close the regular season.

The regionals are March 9-10 at Overton Moapa Valley, with the state meet May 16-17 at Damonte Ranch in Reno.