×

Finlandia sweeps Gogebic in first-ever home games

Lions win 11-3, 11-1 in twinbill at McAfee Field

Finlandia junior Rheanna Bain, right, slides into second base against Gogebic on Saturday, April 10, 2021, at McAfee Field in Hancock, Mich. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HANCOCK — The Finlandia softball team made program history Saturday afternoon as they played their first-ever home games ever on the friendly confines of McAfee Field. That is quite a big deal for a program that’s been around for more than 15 years.

The Lions christened their new home in fine fashion as they swept the visiting Gogebic Samsons 11-3 and 11-1 in a doubleheader in front of an enthusiastic hometown crowd.

“We had played a game in the fall with this setup, but this was our first official one,” said Finlandia athletic director Curtis Wittenburg. “We usually clear the snow from the field in March so teams can practice, but it’s just been in the last two years that we’ve had the fencing and been able to put a field together.”

As for the doubleheader sweep, the two wins pushed the Lions’ winning streak to six games and moved them to 6-4 on the season.

In the first game, the Lions jumped on the board with six runs off seven hits in the first frame. They would score one more in the third and one in the fourth. After another three runs in the fifth, the game ended due to the eight-run mercy rule.

According to Lions coach Matt Farrell, the key to this first home win was the strong pitching of Harlie Caster. She threw five innings, struck out six and gave up no walks.

“Walks always come back to haunt you,” he added.

The second game looked a lot like the first one as the Lions’ bats stayed hot. They knocked in two runs in the first and nine in the second. Lions starter Kyndell Coffman gave up just three hits and one run for the victory. The game ended in the fifth also due to the mercy rule.

“I am very happy with this team,” said Farrell. “We have very good team chemistry. They love being out here. It beats spending eight weeks (of practice) in the gym. It’s great to be in fresh air and play ball like its supposed to be played.”

The softball team and athletic department took full advantage of the existing permanent football and soccer markings on the turf. The 40-yard football line became the first-base softball line, and the soccer sideline became the third-base line. The pitching circle was at the 50-yard line. Bases were secured to the field accordingly.

While the transformation of McAfee was an easy one in terms of foul lines, the set up made for an interesting look. With the football and soccer lines combined with the school’s logo at the 50-yard line, it created a confusing patch work of lines across the infield and outfield.

“It keeps our players on their toes,” Farrell said.

Wittenburg added that the new softball field wouldn’t be possible without the existing turf.

“With spring up here, you don’t know what you are going to get,” he said. “However, we have good drainage on the turf, and we can easily clean off the snow.”

Blue plastic netting wrapped around the McAfee grounds creating a home-grown stadium. Large netting made for a backstop behind the batter’s boxes. By NCAA regulations, the fences were 210 feet down the foul lines and 230 feet to dead center.

Farrell said that the fencing went up earlier in the week and was not an easy project as the team simply hadn’t done it enough times to streamline the process.

The Lions will play two more doubleheader series at home, against Northland College on April 18 and Bay College on April 23.

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