×

Mattila Rock and Dock earns trip to fastpitch semifinals

Paul Peterson photo Katie Mattila of Mattila Rock and Dock is tagged out at home plate by Northern Michigan Land Brokers catcher Molly Berg in Monday's playoff game at the Boneyard in Lake Linden. Mattila R&D was a 5-1 winner.

LAKE LINDEN — The pitching of Mel Baker and some clutch hitting by Darla Mensch was enough to power Mattila Rock and Dock to an opening round playoff win over Northern Michigan Land Brokers Monday evening in Copper Country Women’s Softball League action.

The 5-1 triumph at the Boneyard sends Mattila R&D to a second round game Wednesday against Auto Pro Glass and Tire in Lake Linden.

“I thought Mel (Baker) pitched a strong game,” Mattila R&D manager Diane Mattila said. “They got some runners on base, but she bore down when she had to.”

Mensch, who will leave this week for Army boot camp, supplied most of the offensive heroics for the winners.

She delivered a two-run double in the third inning to increase a 2-1 lead to 4-1. She also had another RBI hit earlier.

Baker allowed six hits, walked just one and fanned five batters in recording the mound win.

She also helped herself with a couple of nice fielding plays and her teammates also played stellar defensive ball.

“Our defense was real strong,” Diane Mattila said, “We’ve been pretty strong in that area most of the season.

Hannah Hill of Northern Michigan Land Brokers also hurled a strong game. She allowed eight hits, walked three and struck out three.

Now 8-5 on the season, Mattila R&D also received two hits from Baker.

NMLB got two hits apiece from Hill and Cara Larson.

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