DON McDERMOTT / PVT The baseball-playing Trojans were 4-2 in the Route 66 Classic at River Valley, Ariz., last weekend. Mike Franco pitches against Monument Valley, Ariz., in an 8-1 romp by PVHS. Advertisement

MOHAVE VALLEY, ARIZ. -- In six previous springs, the Pahrump Valley High School fast-pitch softball team did not win its first game of the season.,

Last weekend, with Preston Dockter debuting as the Lady Trojans' coach, PVHS won its first two starts, lost, then added three more victories to finish 5-1 in the Route 66 Classic Softball tournament, played at River Valley High School here.

Meanwhile, the baseball Trojans, coming off a runnerup finish in the 2007 Nevada Class 3-A State Championships, benefitted from some outstanding pitching and defense to win four games. Shaky pitching and erratic defense proved costly in two defeats in the tournament, hosted by River Valley.

In the softball tournament, Pahrump Valley defeated Holbrook, Ariz., 11-0 and Tuba City (Ariz.) Greyhills Academy 13-2, before Arizona power Lakeside Blue Ridge rumbled to an 11-0 win. The Trojans completed the weekend tournament by beating Show Low, Ariz., 11-9 and Phoenix Christian by forfeit.

In baseball, the Doug Marion-coached Trojans lost to Bullhead City Mohave 7-4, before beating Greyhills 21-2, Monument Valley 8-1 and Chino Valley 3-0 in games in which PVHS pitchers dominated. They were particularly effective in the wins against Monument Valley and Chino Valley, allowing only three hits and one earned run in 14 innings. Mike Franco, with relief from lefthander Sam Morrow, got the win against Monument Valley, while Danny Cazier and Cody Nielsen worked a two-hit win against Chino Valley, one of Arizona's best small-school teams.

Saturday, the Trojans defeated Ely White Pine 17-5 and lost 9-5 to River Valley.

Pahrump Valley's softball team is in a tournament at St. George, Utah, Friday and Saturday. The Trojans will play in the 18th annual March Warm-up hosted by Dixie High School, opening at 3 p.m. (MST) against San Juan. At 6:30, PVHS will take on Park City.

At 8 a.m. Saturday, the Trojans will play Enterprise, Utah, before a bracket round begins.

Pahrump Valley goes to Las Vegas Saturday to play the Canyon Springs baseball team in a twin bill starting at noon. Canyon Springs is in the Craig Road area west of I-15.

Beatty won two of its first four games in baseball, sweeping a doubleheader from Henderson International School 20-4 and 10-0 in a game in which Byron Gray and Eddie Maldonado combined to pitch a five-inning no-hitter.

The Brian Hayes-coached Hornets lost 6-2 and 6-3 to Class 3-A Mesquite Virgin Valley in a twin bill Monday.

Beatty softball results were not reported.

Pahrump Valley's track team opened its season Tuesday at home in a quad meet against Laughlin and Las Vegas rivals Chaparral and Durango. Saturday, the Andy Schneider-coached Trojans are in the Louise Heitkotter Invitational at Faith Lutheran.