It was just two short weeks ago that Linn-Mar softball coach Jon Harms had this to say about his suddenly resurgent team:

"We're finally getting timely hits and as a team we're hitting the ball a lot better, and in the games that we've won, we've just got a lot more consistent pitching," he said. "Actually, the last few weeks we've played really well in all phases of the game - hitting, pitching and defense. It's been a good way to kind of get it going here toward the end of the season."

Those comments came after the Lions not only had snapped a brutal 17-game losing streak but had continued to win, and clicked off nine victories in 12 games before facing Cedar Rapids Jefferson in a Class 4A regional tournament semifinal at Jefferson on July 13.

The fourth-ranked J-Hawks ended it all for the Lions that night with a 6-0 victory, thanks to a brilliant two-hit, 15-strikeout shutout from pitcher Hannah Petersen. Leah Beck had both of the Lions' hits.

Linn-Mar finished the 2010 season at 12-25, but was 9-4 in its final 13 games.

The Mississippi Valley Conference honor squads had not yet been released early this week, but the All-Metro teams were, and five Lions were cited.

Beck, a senior, and Lindsey Harms, a junior, were both named first-team All-Metro, and senior Kristin Gibbs was a second team pick. Senior Sami Sylvester and eighth-grader Ellie Rizor received honorable mention recognition.

Beck led the Lions in hitting at .420 (47-for-112) with a home run, a team-high 25 RBIs and 23 runs scored, according to statistics at quikstatsiowa.com. Harms was 38-for-112 at the plate (.339) with a team-high 25 runs scored.

Gibbs batted .310 (31-for-100) with 19 runs scored.