Calumet’s Isabella Coppo watches her fly ball sail foul during the first inning of a Division 3 District 65 play-in game at Legion Field in Calumet. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

CALUMET — With a chance to advance in the Division 3 District 65 playoffs at home, the Calumet Copper Kings softball team did just that on Tuesday evening with a 10-0 win over the Westwood Patriots in the district play-in game.

In fact, the only thing the Copper Kings lost all evening was the coin toss for which team would bat second.

For coach Joel Rastello, the effort the Copper Kings gave at Legion Field was what he has been looking for out of his group all season long, especially after a split with Lake Linden-Hubbell last week.

“When we played against Lake Linden the other night, we had a lot of drops of routine balls,” he said. “It was (an) emphasis today in our discussions and brainstorming the game plan. The girls did what they were supposed to do.”

Calumet played sound defense throughout the game, including on two different occasions where they forced a flyout, and then caught a runner who was overcommitted to moving to the next base, creating double plays.

“We told the kids, ‘if you make the plays you’re supposed to play, and make a few extra ones that maybe you shouldn’t, we win it,’ and that’s exactly what they did,” said Rastello. “You make the hard catch, and you’re still thinking there’s another play someplace. (You) make the throw and boom, bases loaded and there’s one out, and all of a sudden you’re out of the inning. It’s awesome.”

Westwood coach Cherish Ostola, whose team had gone 1-2 against Calumet during the season, felt her team’s bats were good despite her team’s struggles to string multiple hits together.

“These girls have been good hitters all year,” she said. “It’s the game of softball. It happens sometimes.”

Ostola was proud of the effort her team put in throughout the evening.

“It was a little bit of a rough game,” she said, “but overall, they had a really great season and I’m really proud of them.”

Calumet jumped on Patriots starting pitcher Alexa Radcliffe in the top of the first inning. Sophomore Lena Myhren got things going with a leadoff single to center field. Senior Ashlee Johnson followed by reaching on a defensive error in right field. Sophomore Isabella Coppo then doubled to the center field fence to bring both Myhren and Johnson home.

Junior Ryleigh Johnson hit a pop fly that got over third base. Senior Brooke Pomroy reached on a defensive error, and got to second base. In the confusion that followed, both Johnson and Pomroy scored, putting Calumet up 4-0.

The Copper Kings offense was able to string together multiple hits to create their runs, which was exactly what Rastello was hoping for because as his team found success at the plate, they found themselves playing with confidence.

“It’s confidence building for everybody,” he said. “It’s a confidence builder for the players. It’s a trust factor for us. We know you trust that kid in different situations.”

Still leading 4-0 in the top of the third, Calumet’s offense went back to work.

With two outs, Coppo walked. Ryleigh Johnson singled. Both runners advanced on defensive indifference, putting both in scoring position. Pomroy followed with a two-run single to center field, putting the Copper Kings up 6-0.

In the top of the fourth, Calumet’s offense was back at it. Junior Laina Kariniemi reached on a successful bunt. Myhren then singled to center field. Ashlee Johnson knocked both runners home with a single to right field. Senior Helen Beiring reached on a fielder’s choice to keep the inning moving. Coppo reached on a defensive error. Ryleigh Johnson then sacrificed to score Beiring and put the Copper Kings within a run of closing the game out with the mercy rule.

In the top of the fifth, sophomore Kaylie Newsome walked. Senior Ella Newman reached on a fielder’s choice. Kariniemi then walked. Ashlee Johnson followed and she reached on a defensive error, which scored Newman.

While the offense for Calumet was strong, Myhren’s pitching on the mound kept the Patriots from building offensively.

“Lena is tough,” Rastello said. “She’s had a lot of innings this year. She’s our No. 1 pitcher.

“I don’t think it was certainly not too much for her. She’s all-conference first team, just a great player.”

The Patriots had one last chance to get on the board in the bottom half of the fifth, and Megan Marta drilled a double to the center field fence with one out. Nolia Dawson sacrificed to move Marta to third with two out. Taylor Jackovich then grounded out, which ended the game.

Up next

The Copper Kings have a couple of days off before they face the Houghton Gremlins Saturday at 10 a.m. in Negaunee in the district semifinals.