Two questions remain.

* Can Pahrump Valley's baseball team generate significant momentum from its 7-4 victory against defending league, regional and state champion Las Vegas Faith Lutheran, when the teams collide in the Southern Nevada Class 3-A playoffs at 6 p.m. Thursday in Boulder City?

* Can Jessie Tracy, Faith Lutheran's strong-armed righthander, maintain her undefeated pace of the regular season in the fast-pitch softball playoffs, which start Thursday at Boulder City?

After losing 23 consecutive games to the Crusaders since the 2003 season, the Trojans used the gutsy pitching of junior righthander Mike Gonzalez and some timely hitting to win 7-4 in the second game of a league twin bill Friday.

The Crusaders had run away to an 18-8 win in the opener to put the pressure on the Trojans, who had to win the nightcap to avoid the possibility of missing the playoffs.

Beating the Crusaders again Thursday would be huge for the Trojans, who pulled off stunning victories against nemesis Boulder City in the 2007 regionals to earn a trip to the state tournament.

This time, however, there is no room for error; only the regional champion advances to the state tournament May 15-17 at Reno.

In softball, Faith Lutheran and Pahrump Valley each finished 14-2 in the Southern League, as Tracy went 8-0 for the Crusaders. That unbeaten run included 9-0 and 2-0 shutout wins against the Trojans.

Barring stunning upsets in first-round games and in the consolation round, PVHS and Faith will clash in the winners' bracket finals Friday and again for the championship Saturday.

Which means the Lady Trojans and Tracy will collide again. This time, the showdown will be huge; whoever survives the Saturday showdown will advance to the state tournament, to be played May 16-17 at Bishop Manogue High School in Reno.