Mount Rainier played North Mason and couldn't score so they couldn't win -- losing 3-0 in first round action of the 3A West Central District fastpitch tournament.

The Rams' season ended with the loss, 11-8.

North Mason scored in the first, third and fifth inning.

There were some nice plays in this game, but, as far as the North Mason runs go, all three were undeserved.

"We did it to ourselves, " said Angelique Porter. "All three runs were unearned."

But dwelling on the positives and not the negatives like only three hits, none better than singles, is what will be done. Like Kelly Parsons throwing out a base stealer going for second, like Sarah Martinez several put-outs, with good long throws from third base and one snag of a hard-hit grounder that showed she deserved the gold glove if there was such an award in fastpitch.

MARTINEZ is only a junior and Parsons and a few others.

Lauren Coughlin pitched well for the Rams, just some defensive miscues from the infield and outfield hurt her being able to be called the winning pitcher.

She consistently put the ball over the plate and her accuracy and speed change pitches kept the Bulldogs at bay.

"Just errors hurt us," said Martinez. "We hit the ball well but were unlucky."

They were unlucky, besides Parsons' two singles, and other hard hits, like Candyce Ochoa's to center field into snow cone catch, were right at Bulldogs players.

In the end, after the game, the Rams girls weren't fourth in the state like two years ago. And that didn't matter. The grins did.

"Long as the girls left with smiles, that's what counts," said Porter.