Crush came into the playoffs with just two wins on the season and both of those were against Coca Cola of Hancock (6-6 overall) early on in the season.

However, as the saying goes in sports, when the playoffs roll around, it is the start of another whole season.

“In that first game, the girls played top-notch defense,” said Crush manager Curtis Kinnunen. “We committed just one error and got our runs in the seventh to win it.”

With the win, they faced Northern Michigan Land Brokers (6-6 overall) for the championship game. Northern Michigan beat Coca Cola, 7-4, in extra innings in their semifinal game earlier in the day.

Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Crush/Diamond House International/Baby E’s BBQ’s Mackenzie LePage connects with a pitch during a game against Northern Michigan Saturday in Lake Linden.

In the title game, Crush defeated Northern Michigan, 9-7, to earn the title.

“After that first win, the girls were fired up, and you could just tell that they really wanted the trophy,” said Kinnunen. “They came to play today.”

If defense was the name of the game in Crush’s first game, offense was the key in the title game. They took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back.

Shortstop Ashlee Johnson started the frame off by reaching first on an error at third base. Pitcher Mackenzie LePage walked. Left fielder Sarah Audette then smacked a double to left center and brought both runs in.

In the bottom of the second inning, Northern Michigan got their first run of the game as second baseman Gail Filpus came in on a misplayed ball in left field off the bat of their pitcher, Melissa Baker.

In the third, Crush made it 3-1 as center fielder Kierstyn Codere knocked in LePage with a tripe off the fence in center field. They widened the gap to 6-1 in the fourth on a combination of some misplayed balls by Northern Michigan and big hits by Johnson, LePage and Audette.

“We were really aggressive on the base paths, and I think that helped us,” said Kinnunen. “I wanted them to run on any wild pitch and take advantage of any overthrows, and we did.”

Crush’s pitching was also strong. LePage threw five strong innings forcing ground balls. Audette came in and did the same for the last two innings.

After Crush got another run in the top of the fifth, Northern Michigan rallied to get three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. Baker started things off with a walk. Third baseman Carolyn Parker reached first on an error. Then with two on, first baseman Molly Bugni slapped a single to the left side and both runs came in. She would later cross home on a Mackenzie Ekdahl base hit.

As the game headed into the sixth inning, the young underdogs, Crush, were just six outs from the championship title.

However, the veteran softballers from Northern Michigan would not make it that easy as they came back and tied it at 7-7. A lead-off walk to center fielder Alana Nolan followed by a base hit by Filpus put the tying run at the plate in the way of Baker. She came through with a single that scored Nolan. Filpus then scored on a fielder’s choice by Parker to the Crush shortstop. Two batters later shortstop Anna Gaffney brought in Baker on a misplayed fly ball to second. The game was now tied and headed into the last inning.

After playing some of their best softball of the year, the ladies from Crush were not about to give up. They rallied their bats and put together a two-run final inning.

With one out, Codere got a base hit. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and came in on a Ryleigh Johnson single. Third baseman Kera Kinnunen then followed with a base hit which put her at first and Johnson on third. Crush then pulled a double steal. The throw to second was a misfire, and Johnson crossed the plate with the final run.

In the bottom of the ninth, Crush was able to put Northern Michigan down in just four batters, ending the contest.

They hoisted the Holly McCullah Memorial Traveling Trophy with much joy minutes later in game-ending ceremony.

“What a great tournament,” said Northern Michigan’s player-manager Melissa Baker. “These were great games today and it was a good season overall. Hats off to Crush. I think youth prevailed in the end.”

Audette earned the win earlier in the day in Crush’s win over SNB.

Parker and Baker combined to earn the win for Northern Michigan in their semifinal matchup.