Junior pitcher Katie Ness and the Post Falls Trojans softball team will never forget that game.

With a trip to the state tournament on the line against 6-22 Moscow in the 4A District I championship, the Trojans let it slip away in the late innings and ended up having to win a play-in earn the school’s first-ever state berth.

But from adversity sometimes springs hope, and Post Falls is making the most of its second life.

“It was tough coming back from that loss,” Ness said. “But we all just wanted to make it to state so bad.

“We just took our anger and worked really hard to make it happen.”

And Saturday, with a 4-1 win over Mountain Home in Lewiston, that anger turned to pure, unadulterated joy.

“That game was so fun — it was probably the most fun game I’ve ever played in,” Ness said. “We wanted it so bad, so we were all playing our hardest — every pitch, everyone was on their toes ready to make a play.

“It was just a great team effort — I don’t think we’ve played as a team any better than on that day.”

She said dealing with the setback prior to state may not be such a bad thing for the Trojans after all.

“I think that it shows that hard work pays off,” Ness said. “It taught us that anything can happen in softball and you can’t always expect to win.

“I think having that loss made us want it even more.”

Post Falls coach Jack Foster explained the tumultuous week and said he saw — and expected — the spark in Ness on Saturday.

“She pitched really well against Moscow and she hadn’t walked a batter in five innings — and we got to that sixth inning and she walked two kids,” Foster said. “And those are the ones that scored.

“She was pretty down — you know how pitchers are … they take it pretty hard.”

Foster, however, never lost faith.

“Coming back on Saturday in the play-in game, there was no way I was going to go with anybody else but her,” Foster said. “And she went out there and struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.

“She doesn’t throw real hard, but she’s always around the plate and she’s got a great attitude — she’s just a neat kid to be around.”

Ness said what comes next is up to her and her teammates.

“I think we all feel that we can accomplish just about anything if we take it one game at a time,” said Ness, whose team opens state against District VI champion Madison today at Blackfoot High School. “I think that we know that we can play as a team now.”