The Chico High School softball team proved that its successful preseason was no fluke. The team won four of its first five district games and are among the leaders fighting for a playoff spot as the halfway mark draws closer.

The Lady Dragons, however, ran into a little trouble Friday against a team that they will be battling with for one of the three playoff sports up for grabs. They traveled to Nocona where both teams committed five errors but it was the Indians who made the most of it in a 12-11 decision.

The difference in the game was the second inning. Chico, which led 2-0, allowed six runs in the inning, five of which were unearned and Nocona went ahead.

The Lady Dragons spent the rest of the game playing catch up. They scored two in the fifth inning and four times in the sixth to reclaim the lead.

However, they fell apart again and this time it was costly. The Indians, led by two doubles and a home run from standout Kristyn Weaver, pushed six more runs across home plate in the sixth to get the win.

Nocona only scored in two innings but made the most of 10 hits and five miscues to get a dozen runs.

"Nocona's a good team and they played hard the whole way through but they are beatable - we just didn't play our game. We messed up the second inning with throwing errors because we didn't know the game situation. No one's head was in it," said second baseman Rachel McKinley. "We lost because we weren't in the game until we had to be.

When things were getting bad we finally started to play - only it was too late."

The loss dropped CHS to 4-2 in District 9-2A play and it must now get ready for more games against the top teams - Olney and Henrietta.

Chico beat up on Nocona pitching and defense as it scattered 15 base hits. Jessica Coffman, Stephanie Stephens, Rikki Richardson, Delani Long and McKinley accounted for most of the hits.