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Battle of youth: Hancock sweeps Jeffers 8-4, 12-2

Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette Hancock's Abby Brooks swings at a pitch during the second game of a doubleheader against Jeffers Monday at Bill Givens Field in Hancock.

HANCOCK — Two of the area’s youngest teams were on display at Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park Monday evening as the Hancock Bulldogs swept a doubleheader with the Jeffers Jets, 8-4 and 12-2. With the two victories, the Bulldogs improved to 6-0 in conference play.

Delaney Heinonen earned both victories, but, like her teammates, she struggled her way through the opener by throwing more balls than strikes, making life far more difficult that it needed to be.

The sophomore and the majority of her teammates are underclassmen, and that has led to slow starts regularly for the Bulldogs.

“It took us a whole game to get going,” said Bulldogs manager Randy Heinonen. “Credit Jeffers, they played a heck of a ball game. They are well-coached and they pushed us in that first game.

“We just couldn’t time the pitching. Our kids were struggling with the pace of the pitching. We made some dumb mistakes again on the bases.”

While slow starts continue to be the norm for Hancock, the elder Heinonen feels that he has a pretty good grasp of where his players fit, both defensively and in the lineup.

“We are settling in a little bit,” said Heinonen. “After these games, I think I know the nine that should start and where they should settle in.”

In the opposite dugout, Jets manager Sean Connors is going through growing pains of his own with a young Jets’ squad that is still searching for a pitcher who can go the distance.

“We still had too many walks,” said Connors. “Walks continue to get us, but we are improving.”

The Jets used four pitchers in each game of the doubleheader, a trend that proves costly against the likes of a Delaney Heinonen.

Still, the Jets found themselves down just 5-4 in the opener after a three-run fifth inning. Connors was extremely pleased with the progression his offense is making.

“We are making progress,” said Connors. “I am happy with that progress. We gave them a great game that first game. I am real proud of the effort the girls put in.”

Grace Laitala got the inning started by taking a walk. Maili Rautiola singled two batters later. Brooke Heinonen singled as well. All three crossed home plate.

The game remained close until the top of the seventh, when the Bulldogs strung together walks and took advantage of mistakes by the Jets defense to score the three runs necessary to put the game out of reach.

With the bases loaded, D’Andra Kero walked home a run. Emma Almquist then walked home another. Kyla Colombe hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring one more run on the play.

In the nightcap, Brooke Heinonen reached on an error. She later scored on a wild pitch, putting the Jets up 1-0 before the bottom half of the inning.

The Bulldogs drew walks from Jordan Rowe and Delaney Heinonen to open their half of the inning. Rowe scored on a wild pitch, and Heinonen later scored on a single by Janie Berg to give Hancock the lead, 2-1.

They never looked back from there as defensive mistakes and walks continued to plague the Jets the remainder of the evening.

The Bulldogs opened the bottom of the second with a double from Almquist, who only failed to reach a base on her opening at bat of the day. Jillian Parker reached on an error before Rowe and Delaney Heinonen both singled. All four baserunners crossed home plate before Kero struck out to end the inning.

“Emma Almquist was awesome,” said Heinonen. “She played so well defensively and was on base every time but one [Monday]. It’s about having success and being confident.”

Hancock put up another four runs in the third as Almquist, Parker and Rowe all singled. Delaney Heinonen followed those hits with a double to center field and all four runners found their way home before the Jets could record a third out, giving the Bulldogs a 10-1 advantage heading into the fourth inning.

Clouthier walked as the second batter of the fourth, and was replaced with Marissa Nordstrom at first base. Nordstrom later scored when Katri Rajala singled down the third base line.

The Bulldogs turned to Almquist again in the fourth, and she came up with a walk. Parker followed with a walk as well. Rowe sacrificed, moving both runners into scoring position and Delaney Heinonen knocked Almquist home with a single before Madelyn Piener sacrificed to bring Parker home.

The Jets return to action tonight when they travel to Calumet for a doubleheader with the Copper Kings. Hancock goes to Calumet on Thursday.

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