In the night’s opener, it took two innings before either team got on the board.

Superior Service broke the silence in the top of the third with pitcher Josie Connors and center fielder Reagan Moyle both getting hits and later scoring.

However, SNB passed them by two with a four-run bottom of the third. Outfielder Leah Kiilunen had a bases-clearing double to left center that brought in Trisha Wesa and Hannah Impola. She would score herself on a Celia Peterson hit up the middle two batters later. They led 4-2 after three.

SNB would stay on top of their game and not relinquish the lead scoring five more runs in the remaining three innings.

Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette Josie Connors readies to pitch for Superior Service during a game Monday in Chassell.

In the fourth it was SNB’s Kim Aho and Impola who hit singles and scored. In the fifth, Kiilunen started off with a walk and came in thanks to a Celia Peterson double. In the sixth, starting pitcher Vera Peterson helped her own cause with a two-run homer to left center field that knocked in Impola and herself.

While Superior Service tallied runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings it would not be enough to catch SNB.

“We played great tonight,” said SNB’s player/coach Impola in light of the win. “We hit the ball well and made the plays we needed to.”

In the second game, JB’s was down 6-5 after two innings but bounced back to a 10-6 victory over the Tervo Agency.

Tervo took a 2-1 lead after the opening frame with Alana Nolan and Heather Huffmaster scoring. Both teams added four runs in the second.

After a scoreless third, JB’s bats came alive in the fourth. Josie Hembroff started it off with a walk issued by Tervo’s starter Mel Baker. Sadie Biekkola was then hit by pitch. Kenz Ekdahl stepped up and got a RBI hit to left center. Two batters later, Jada Guilbault slapped an RBI base rap of her own. She came home herself to give JB’s an 8-6 lead.

JB’s would add two more runs and play strong defense to close out the final innings for a 10-6 victory.

The league’s playoffs begin next week and all coaches are excited.

“We’ve had a couple of ups and downs this season, but we have been getting into the swing of things and have been hitting the ball well,” said Impola after her team’s win. “It’s perfect timing as we should be playing our best softball right into playoffs.”

Playoffs

Crush and Superior Service will play Wednesday at the Boneyard at 6:30 p.m. for their final games in the league’s five-team, eight-game season.

Playoffs begin on Monday, July 26, at 6:30 p.m. in Chassell with Superior Service facing Tervo Agency. That same night and time at the Boneyard will see SNB face JB’s. The winner of the Superior Service vs. Tervo game will face Crush on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Boneyard

The league’s championship game is set for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 2, at the Boneyard.