Desert Mountain junior-to-be Stefanie Ewing was given "the opportunity of a lifetime" this spring.

The Chaparral Firebirds broke open a scoreless game on a bases-loaded error at the plate as pitcher Dallas McBride held off the Mountain Ridge Mountain Lions for a 2-0 win in its elimination game Tuesday.

Keep it simple. Easy, right?

A quick breakdown of Monday night's Division I softball state championship matchup between No. 14 Chaparral and No. 6 Red Mountain:

May 10, 2005

April 6, 2005

November 18, 2004

In this dugout is the three-time defending state champions of softball, with a significant portion of the 2012 title team playing prominent roles again. Red Mountain is a No. 6 seed oozing with confidence, has gotten lights-out pitching from junior ace Bre Macha, went through the winner's bracket for a second consecutive year and outscored its opponents 30-4 in this tournament, including a win over its next opponent.

It took a black-and-blue kind of semifinal battle between Mountain View and Chaparral to set up an all-red-and-black championship game in the Division I girls softball state tournament.

Chaparral southpaw ace Dallas McBride was a bit wild early on, but didn’t flinch.

Never a doubt.

May 13, 2005

Loren Anguiano and Krista Hicks combined on a no-hitter as host Marcos de Niza (10-5, 0-10) defeated South Mountain, 10-0, in a 5A non-region softball game on Thursday. Mary Hicks led the Padres with a double and two RBIs, while teammate Kelley Drane went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Whitney Heys tossed a five-inning no-hitter in Desert Mountain's 14-1 shellacking of Fountain Hills Friday in a Desert Mountain Softball Invitational game at Scottsdale's Horizon Park.

With a deep inhale and wide smile, Jordan Beck let out the worst-kept secret in Arizona high school softball, and came as close as anyone wearing black and red to acknowledging the history that’s been made on the east end of Brown Road.

Three years ago, a bunt, overthrow, or bobbled grounder led to a 1-0 win or loss.

Ashley Smuda recorded her second shutout in the 5A Desert Valley Region softball tournament Thursday as host Horizon blanked Phoenix Xavier, 7-0, to clinch a 5A state tournament berth.

Lauren Kemp struck out four batters and threw a nohitter to help visiting Desert Mountain blank Phoenix North Canyon (5-12, 2-3) 14-0 in a 5A Desert Valley Region softball game on Wednesday.

Kalie Germaine singled in Stacey Waite with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh to lead Mountain View over Hamilton, 7-6, in the Marcos de Niza/ McClintock softball tournament at McClintock.

Jenny Jackson went 4-for-5 and scored the tying run in both the seventh and ninth innings as Mesa beat host McClintock 5-4 Wednesday at the Marcos de Niza-McClintock softball tournament.

Megan Hansen fired a onehitter and her RBI double in the fourth inning lifted host Corona del Sol past Highland, 1-0, Tuesday in a 5A nonregion game.

Ashley Auton drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth inning to score the winning run as host Saguaro edged Fountain Hills, 2-1, in a non-region high school softball game Saturday. Deidre Grzelak struck out nine and allowed two hits for the Sabercats. Lindsey Wahlert gave up just three hits for Fountain Hills.

Senior center Michael Crowell, a starter on Mesa High’s state championship boys basketball team, will undergo surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder on Friday.

JJ Husar transferred from Basha to Desert Ridge after the 2011 football season.