×

Walk-off winner

Spence’s walk-off grand slam gives Calumet Sweet Treats a 10-9 win

Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette Calumet Sweet Treats' catcher Allison Spence connects with a pitch from Calumet Golf Course/Loading Zone's MacKenzie Lepage during the seventh inning of a game Wednesday at Houghton Field. The hit sailed over the left field fence for a walk-off grand slam.

HOUGHTON — Heading into the top of the seventh inning Wednesday night, it appeared that Calumet Sweet Treats was well on their way to a victory over the Calumet Golf Course/Loading Zone thanks to a 9-3 lead in Copper Country Women’s Fastpitch action. When the dust settled, they did earn the victory, but it took a walk-off grand slam from Allison Spence to do it, 13-9.

“[I feel] pretty good for sure,” said Spence.

Molly Helminen got the bottom of the seventh going for Sweet Treats by drawing a walk. Jonna Berg followed with a well-placed bunt and reached first. Vera Peterson also bunted to load the bases after a close call at third saw Helminen arrive safe.

Spence fouled off two successive pitches as she looked for the right one to get behind. When it arrived out of the hand of relief pitcher MacKenzie Lepage, Spence launched the ball over the left field fence and off the barn behind the fence, ending the game in dramatic fashion.

“I was just focusing on watching the ball because that is where I always mess up,” said Spence. “I just keyed in on it. There wasn’t anything that special about it.”

Spence knocked home six RBI on the night, going 4 for 5 in the contest. But it was almost not enough.

Trailing in the top of the seventh, Golf Course/Loading Zone opened the inning with a walk earned by Jada Riutta off of the Sweet Treats relief pitcher, Peterson. Kali DeMars reached after being hit by a pitch. Caitlyn Zerbst followed with a walk and suddenly Golf Course/Loading Zone had the bases loaded.

Greta Poyhonen walked in a run and suddenly the winds of change blew through. Lepage walked to bring another run home and that ended Peterson’s night on the mound. Berg came in to try to and shut things down. Elli Djerf had other ideas, doubling to the center field fence, clearing the bases in the process and cutting Sweet Treats’ lead down to 9-8.

Taylor Vertin knocked home Djerf as the tying run with a single to left field.

“You are still working hard, but you are not stressing about anything at that point,” said Spence about the sizable lead before Golf Course/Loading Zone evened things. “You definitely have to have a mindset, [because] that is when things get interesting.”

Golf Course/Loading Zone took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Lepage and Djerf both walked. Riutta doubled to left field to bring them both home. Riutta then scored when Zerbst reached on an error.

Kendra Keranen started the rally in the bottom of the second for Sweet Treats by picking up a double down the left field line. She then scored when May Beiring got to first on a defensive error.

Emily Erkkila continued the rally in the bottom of the third by reaching on a defensive error to lead off. Erkkila got to third on a passed ball and then scored when Spence singled. Spence then scored when Keranen got to second on a defensive error to even the score at 3-3.

Erkkila, Peterson, Spence, and Kierstyn Codere all scored in the bottom of the fourth as Sweet Treats took a 7-3 advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth, Sweet Treats was at it again when Peterson and Spence picked up back-to-back singles. Codere sacrificed to score Peterson. Keranen then knocked Spence home with a sacrifice as well, pushing the advantage to 9-3.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today