De Soto ? The shock still hadn’t worn off for Eudora High softball coach Cara Kimberlin when she uttered her first comments following the Cardinals’ 3-1 loss to Kansas City Ward in the Class 4A regional semifinals.

This one hurt, and it was a feeling to which Kimberlin has become all too accustomed.

“Two seconds on the clock,” she muttered, referencing her EHS basketball squad’s heartbreaking 52-50 loss to Ward in the sub-state championship in March when it had the lead and the ball with two seconds remaining.

In similar fashion to how her hoops team’s state-tournament dreams were dashed in a matter of seconds, her softball squad’s spectacular season agonizingly bit the dust.

The Cardinals (18-4) led, 1-0, with two outs and no runners on base in the top of the seventh inning.

Senior pitcher Kelly Spence had a full count on Ward catcher Rachel Oswald.

A berth in the regional title game was one strike away.

That’s when things fell apart.

Oswald walked. Kelly Jonscher singled to left field. Jessica Ogan tapped an infield single that loaded the bases. Still, Anna Breitenstein’s ground ball should have ended the game.

Instead, the throw to first was high. EHS first baseman Brynn Hamilton appeared to tag first well before Breitenstein reached base. One umpire called her safe. The other said she was out. The umpires refused to discuss the call with each other, resulting in a safe call and a tie game.

Next, Ward right fielder Kim Lipovitz hit a grounder to short, but Eudora shortstop Michelle Deluna’s throw to first was in the dirt and two more runs scored.

Just like that, a Cardinal victory dissolved.

Later, Ward beat De Soto, 4-0, and advanced to state.

“It’s not how I wanted any of those kids to end their season,” Kimberlin said. “There’s credit to Ward because they never quit, and they could’ve easily hung their heads and quit with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.”

De Soto senior pitcher Emily Baker threw a five-hitter and smacked a game-winning RBI double in the seventh inning of the Wildcats’ 2-1 semifinal victory against Kansas City Sumner.