By Kellie Caparula
Sports Editor
5-23-2009

In a game where the lead switched sides four times, the Lone Pine softball team was on the wrong side of the final lead change, losing 5-4 to Desert Mirage in the first game of the playoffs Thursday.
The Eagles were deterred by sloppy defense as the Rams were able to get all their runs off of Lone Pine errors.
“We had just a couple of errors that cost us,” said Lone Pine softball head coach Dan Gonzales.
Despite their defensive woes, the Eagles jumped on top in the bottom of the first inning after Nora Sellberg sent a run home with a two-out RBI.
Lone Pine maintained its lead until an overthrow to third base allowed Desert Mirage to score the tying run.
The Rams went ahead in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead.
Lone Pine trailed until the bottom of the sixth as Ruth Serna was able to jumpstart the Eagles with a single and Sellberg followed suit.
Miriam Duran brought in the tying run and a few batters later after Kady Francone loaded the bases. Chelsea Benbrook brought in 2 more runs with a double.
Lone Pine had a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Desert Mirage tied the game at 4 after a Ram triple. Lone Pine disputed the tying running, saying that Desert Mirage runner didn’t tag up but the run stood.
The Rams scored the winning run soon after.
Lone Pine made a fight out of it in the bottom of the seventh as two runners got on base, but the Eagles could not bring them home.
“For their last showing, it was good,” Gonzales said of his team’s effort.
Even though the Eagles’ season ended with a loss, Lone Pine had a good season, winning the first league championship in school history. They also have a bright future, only losing four seniors – Alisha Leslie, Lacy Boyer, Miriam Duran and Kirsten Allen  – and having a strong freshmen class.
“I think we’ll be competitive next year,” Gonzales said.