Houghton’s Fayah Zapolink (13) throws the ball to first base against Calumet on Monday, May 3, 2021, in Houghton, Mich. (Eddie O’Neill/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — The Calumet Copper Kings girls softball team paid a visit to Houghton High School on Monday for a twin bill against the Gremlins.

The Copper Kings won the first one 10-3, and the Gremlins took the second game 14-13 in extra innings.

“Our starting pitcher, Elli Djerf, pitched well, and the girls played good defense in that first one,” said Calumet head coach Joel Rastello. “When she is on the mound, I know we have a chance.”

In the opening game, the Copper Kings jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings. This included a four-run second in which Calumet took advantage of some inconsistent pitching by Houghton’s starter Grace Brunet. She had three consecutive walks coupled with a few errors in the field by her teammates.

“We were flat, and I was frustrated in that first one,” said Gremlins head coach Mel Baker. “The girls were kicking dirt and feeling sorry for themselves that it was 40 degrees out here. No one showed up to play.”

The Gremlins (8-2) notched a run in the third and again in the fifth thanks to the bat of Mackenzie Ekdahl who rapped out singles in both of those frames and crossed the plate as well.

The Copper Kings (7-3) led 6-3 headed into the sixth inning when their bats came alive again. Catcher Laura Giachino started the rally off with a double. Ila Goulette followed with an RBI single to left. Emma Perala and Madison Mitchell had base hits as well. When the hit parade was over, the Copper Kings led 10-3.

While the Gremlins had one more shot in the seventh, Djerf struck out two and the Copper Kings walked off with the victory.

As the second game got underway, Baker’s frustration level only got higher as the Copper Kings opened up with a six-run first inning. It was again a combination of walks, hits and poor play in the field by Houghton.

“We had too many errors,” she said. “The first inning was not good.”

The Copper Kings added two more runs in the top of the of the third to make it 8-1.

The Gremlins’ bats came alive in the bottom frame to the tune of a 10-run rally. This included base hits by Brynn Arko, Ekdahl, Aydra Williamson, Fayah Zapolink and a double by Isabella Cleary.

“Obviously I was happy when we started to rattle the bats, and the mood changed on the bench,” added Baker.

After three, the Gremlins had their first lead of the afternoon with an 11-8 tilt. They would add another run in fifth while the Copper Kings crossed home twice to make it a 12-10 game headed into the sixth.

Djerf led things off in the sixth with a triple and was knocked in by Giachino. She then came home on a Goulette hit to center to tie it at 12.

The Gremlins almost ended the game in the bottom of the seventh as their senior shortstop Quinn Donnelly slapped a line drive to the fence in left center with two outs and got the green light to try to turn a triple into a homer only to be thrown out at home in dramatic fashion.

In the extra eighth inning, neither squad could muster a run as both benches stranded a runner on base. Then the Copper Kings started off the ninth with a Morgan Erkillah double and a Djerf single for a 13-12 lead.

The Gremlins had their work cut out, and they came through. With one out, Chloe Morley knocked a base hit up the middle. She advanced on a stolen base and an Arko grounder that turned into a fielders choice. She tied the game on an Ekdahl single.

Two batters later Ekdahl came home on a fly ball to center off the bat of Williamson that was misplayed by the Calumet outfield.

After a four-hour battle at a cold and windy stadium, all were glad when this one was over.

“Houghton ended up winning the battle of the frozen softball players and coaches in game two,” Rastello said. “Hats off to them.”

Hancock sweeps Gwinn

HANCOCK — The Hancock Bulldogs softball team earned a pair of wins in a doubleheader Monday against the Gwinn Modeltowners.

In the opener, Kaydence Kilpela earned the win as she held the Modeltowners to just one run in a 25-1 victory.

In the nightcap, Emilie Scholie picked up the win in a 17-2 decision for the Bulldogs.

LL-H routs Gogebic

Lake Linden-Hubbell swept Gogebic by a combined 35-4 score on Monday.

Olivia Shank got the win on the mound in the first game, striking out four and walking three. Clara Colombe doubled three times. Becca Lyons had a double and two singles. Marissa Sullivan had two singles.

Olivia Shank was the winning pitcher in the second game, striking out eight and walking four. Kara Kinnunen had two doubles. Chloe Daniels and Shank each had a single.