The Mount Rainier Rams had another good season. The traditionally strong team made it to districts, not state, and certainly not fourth place in the state like a couple, three years ago.

But regardless of that, the ladies from there made it to the postseason and a loss to the Auburn Mountainview Lions, 11-1, was not such a bad West Central District III 3A loser-out loss in action at Sprinker Recreation Center May 19.

Afterall, they lost to Kennedy, 1-0, the day before and they very easily could have been right where the Lancers ended up, second. Just some things did not go their way this time. That's all.

"It's not the great ending to the good season we all would have liked, but you guys did a great job," said Angelique Porter, talking to all the girls one last time after the Lions loss.

There were not a whole lot of highlights to draw from in the Lions loss. The foe had a 8-0 lead after four innings and the Rams showed some offense in the fifth, which would turn out to be their last at-bats of the season because the Lions would 10-run rule this one in the bottom of the fifth.

But in the top of five, to end things on a positive note, showing they would not just die with a skunking score, the Rams captain and senior, Kelly Parsons, who will attend Montana State University next year and play fastpitch there, doubled up the middle to start things off right. Then Ashley Messmer, who had what looked like such a great, great potential game-winning hit, line-drive against Kennedy, with the Rams down one run but with a runner on first base that was caught by Shelly Donohue in right field, stabbing at the ball brilliantly to save what likely would have been a home run, finished off the Rams season with a RBI single to score Parsons and make it 8-1.

Parsons was still trying then to muster up faith and confidence for her teammates, taking off the batting helmet in the dugout.

"We're trying," she told this reporter. " But it's hard when you are losing."

And then came the bottom of the fifth inning and the Lions just kept on hitting the ball and scoring runs likey they were doing all game long. Three in the fifth came quickly and ended things.

"It was a good season overall," said Parsons, who was the starting catcher on that Rams team that took second in the state in 2004 and did have several good timely hits to help them win games at the big dance that year in addition to her enthusiastic catching and vocal support even as a frosh.

"We have a young team," she added.

"The team goal was to go to districts," said Porter. "That was pretty much it. Once we were here, the goal was to play and go to state. We played Auburn Mountainview before and lost 10-4. We didn't hit as well as we have been. Auburn-Mountainview is a hitting team. They put the ball in play. That is what we needed to have done."

Game against Kennedy was 1-0 most of the time.

"Almost had'em," said Porter.

Happy with the season then?

"Yep," she said.

The Rams fastpitch girls are Sarah Ferrin, Heidi Hicks, Kelly MacDonald, Julie Soderlind, Brittany Copenhaver, Sarah Martinez, Tasia Keane, Meagan Wilson, Christy Loftus, Kelsey Berg, Ashley Messmer. Assistant coaches are Joel Schmidt and Brandon Walker.