The storybook ending last week was supposed to feature Coeur d'Alene High softball coach Larry Bieber retiring after 21 years holding a state 5A softball championship trophy - giving the Vikings a record six titles in the fastpitch era.

That didn't quite happen.

Instead, they settled for an eighth second-place finish, all with Bieber as coach.

NOT MANY could have figured a nonleague softball doubleheader between the Eagle Mustangs and Coeur d'Alene Vikings could turn into just an entertaining rivalry.

"Larry and I go way back," Eagle coach Doug Corta said. "I've been at Eagle for eight years and we came up here my first year. I got a rude awakening on how to play the game that day."

Eagle beat Coeur d'Alene 6-5 in the opening round Friday, then 8-6 to win a sixth state 5A fastpitch championship last Saturday at Post Falls High.

"Larry and I have had some really good games," Corta said. "The game of softball will really miss him. It won't be the same playing in a state tournament without him."

Eagle advanced to the 2013 championship game, losing 10-0 to Lake City at Ramsey Park in Coeur d'Alene.

"We were so close against them," Corta said. "It was a tough one, but our kids kept working hard. I'm just proud of these kids."

With Bieber gone, his hope is that Jenna (DeLong) Fore succeeds him as coach.

"I hope she gets the job," Bieber said. "I just live across the street and my wife knows that there's going to be times I might sneak across the street and help her with some of the field work, do a hitting drill or work with the kids in the cage. If I'm not busy, I'll come over and help her out."

Coeur d'Alene returns 10 players from this year's team - including 5A Inland Empire League Most Valuable Player Breana Burke - which finished with a second-straight state runner-up finish.

"That's why I wanted to bring her (Fore) on in my last year," Bieber said. "We work hard and make sure we're diligent in our game preparation and have practice plans in place. I think she's going to be an awesome coach. I really do."

THE SAME could be said about the Lake City Timberwolves, and the way they played last weekend.

Lake City bounced back from an opening round loss to finish fourth, with a 20-9 record.

All that with 10 underclassmen playing key roles. Sophomore pitcher Michaela Flerchinger threw all but one inning in the tournament, getting Lake City out of innings with key pitches in loser-out games at state last Friday in Post Falls.

"Kaya threw the ball very well," Lake City coach Jesse Lenz said. "She battled. She just competed and threw the ball really well."

"She's a great player and always has a positive attitude," Lake City senior center fielder JaeCie Wilson said of Flerchinger. "She's a great leader and I look up to her, even as a senior."

Six of Lake City's nine losses came at the hands of Coeur d'Alene, four in the regular season, once at regionals and last Saturday's loser-out game at state.

Things didn't work out as far as keeping the state championship in the north for either Coeur d'Alene or Lake City, but it was going to take a big fight to come back.

This year, the bell just rang a little early this time around.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter at JEPressSports.