Scottsdale Desert Mountain had proven it could beat Glendale Mountain Ridge three times during the regular season. The Wolves had to do it again Thursday if they wanted to advance in the 5A-I state softball tournament. But the Mountain Lions finally got the best of Desert Mountain, winning 2-1 to extend their season.

Desert Mountain, which won the 5A Desert Valley Region title, finishes its season with a record of 21-14.

“I didn’t like the matchup from the beginning,” Desert Mountain coach Rich Sharp said. “It’s tough to beat a team four times.”

The Wolves proved that as they gave up single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. After being dominated early, the Lions (22-12) were able to get to Desert Mountain pitcher Meredith Whitney. Eight of Mountain Ridge’s first nine outs were strikeouts. But late in the game the Lions hit the ball hard off Whitney.

The most frustrating moment of the game came in the bottom of the fifth inning when Desert Mountain used back-to-back hits by Dillon Firestone and Jennifer Tschetter to help load the bases with nobody out. But the Wolves came up empty. Sharp kept waiting for the big hit and it didn’t happen.

“I probably screwed that up,” Sharp said. “I had my big hitters coming up and we were going to take a chance with the big ball.”

The Wolves made things interesting with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Tschetter had singled to start the inning when she watched Mountain Ridge pitcher Stefanie Bolt get the next two batters out. Jaci Moenich then singled and Alex Landon did the same, driving in Tschetter. Bolt then got Whitney to ground out to shortstop to end the game.