KENT - It was the devastatingly, deafening silence of the bats that dominated the scene and doomed Mount Rainier's ascent at the Class 3A South Puget Sound League/Seamount League sub-district fastpitch softball tournament on Saturday, May 10.

With their hitting power muted for only four hits at the Service Club Ballfields, the Rams (14-7) could muster only an unearned run in a seven inning 5-1 loss at the hands of Lindbergh to settle for the No. 7 seed to the West Central League tournament at Spanaway's Sprinker Recreation Center and an opening day duel against Kelso, the No. 1 seed from the Southwest beginning May 16.

The fourth-seeded Eagles (9-8) faced Olympic League No. 1 Port Angeles.

"There were no errors," stated Rams coach Angelique Porter. "It just looked like they (the Eagles) wanted it more."

At the outset, Mount Rainier mounted a small ball attack to manufacture what would be its only tally of the game. Freshman Blessed Joy Mipalar led off the game with a single and advanced later on a steal of second base. One pop out later, Mipalar advanced to third base on a Sarah Martinez sacrifice bunt. Amanda Hopkins followed with a ground ball to the shortstop, resulting in the first baseman failing to capture the throw to first, thus scoring a run.

Lindbergh retaliated in the bottom of the first with two runs on two hits and two walks for a 2-1 lead. Tacking on two more runs in the second inning and a solo tally on a Casey Routos home run over the right center field fence, the Eagles held a big cushion on the light-hitting Rams.

With one out in the third inning, Mount Rainier offered its only other scoring threat of the game. Shelby Klein sharply singled through the right side of the infield ahead of pinch runner Heidi Hicks' steal of second base. Martinez grounded out to second base as Hicks scampered to third base only to be stranded after the next batter struck out. Sarah Ferrin singled for Mount Rainier in the seventh inning with two out, but was left on the bag following a ground out to the pitcher.

"Lindbergh just played better than us," offered Martinez. "They played well."

Klein batted 2-for-2 to pace the Rams.

Heading into district action, coach Porter looked forward to rekindling the Mount Rainier enthusiasm.

"We'll work hard to build more confidence," she concluded. "We need to get the girls excited."