Gold Standard ends season with much-needed win
Gold Standard pitcher Emily Jokela delivers a pitch during a game against Superior Service Monday at the Boneyard in Lake Linden. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)
Gold Standard shortstop Sarah Audette connects with a pitch during a game against Superior Service Monday at the Boneyard in Lake Linden. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)
Gold Standard pitcher Emily Jokela delivers a pitch during a game against Superior Service Monday at the Boneyard in Lake Linden. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)
Gold Standard shortstop Sarah Audette connects with a pitch during a game against Superior Service Monday at the Boneyard in Lake Linden. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)
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LAKE LINDEN -- To say it has been an up-and-down season for Gold Standard on the Copper Country Women's Fastpitch softball circuit would be an understatement. While they have shown signs of strong play, it has been too inconsistent.
Unfortunately, poor play has plagued them - mainly due to an inconsistent lineup week in and week out. However, that wasn't the case on Monday at the Boneyard as they had a great lineup that hit with consistency to the tune of a 9-7 win over Superior Service on the last night of regular season play.
"It was good to see our bats come alive early and establish a lead," said Gold Standard coach Curtis Kinnunen. "We also had some strong pitching in Emily (Jokela). She threw well."
Jokela threw the first half of the game, and Sarah Audette finished it. Jokela struck out two batters in each of her three innings and was helped by Gold Standard scoring in each of those innings to make it a 4-1 game after three innings.
Big bats for Gold Standard included Becca Lyons who had an opening inning RBI double. As well, Jokela helped her own cause with a single in the first inning. In the third, she had a double and a run scored off of Superior Service starter Josie Conners.
Superior Service did better as the game progressed. Milly Loukus opened the fifth with a base hit, and later came home on a fielder's choice to make the score 6-2. In the sixth inning, Conners put her team a notch closer with a double and a run scored to make a 6-3 game.
However, Gold Standard was not done. After a two-run sixth inning of their own, they widened the gap to 9-3 with Audette crossing home on a Lyons fielder's choice.
Audette headed back to the circle hoping for a quick three outs, but Superior Service made it interesting.
After two walks and an error, the bases were loaded for Superior Service's Raili Therrian, who crushed a fastball over the fence in left center for a grand slam. It was now a 9-7 game with two more outs still needed. Fortunately, Gold Standard promptly got them with the next three batters.
"I've never hit a grand slam," said a smiling Therrian. "That was awesome."
Kinnunen hopes that Monday's win will help in the playoffs which begin this evening.
"We need to keep playing strong like we did tonight," he said.
JB's Sales and Service 15, REL, Inc. 7
The other game at the Boneyard on Monday was a continuation of a game that began two weeks ago but ended abruptly due to rain in the second inning. At the time JB's had a 7-2 lead in the second inning, and they just kept adding to that lead on Monday in route to a 15-7 win. They tallied three in the third, one in the fourth and two in the fifth.
"We hit the ball really well and played strong in the field," said JB's player coach Mackenzie Ekdalh.
Meanwhile, REL just could not keep up. While they hit the ball, they could not find the gaps off JB's pitcher Sadie Biekkola and strong defense behind her. REL's player-coach Vera Peterson hopes they can keep swinging hard in the playoffs and find some open spots on the field.
"I thought we did well tonight all around," she said. "We need to keep hitting the ball and playing solid defense."
Superior National Bank 3, Tervo Agency 3
Superior National Bank and the Tervo Agency ended the season in a 3-3 tie after 10 innings due to darkness. Larissa Anderson, Jonna Berg, Elisa Isaacson and Rosalie Anderson all pitched for Superior National Bank. Mel Baker and Olivia Wakeham pitched for Tervo Agency.
At the plate for SNB, Alice Larson and Kim Aho each had two singles. For Tervo, Baker had a triple. Alana Nolan and Heather Huffmaster both had three singles on the night.
UP NEXT
Monday's games ended the regular season and set the stage for Wednesday's two quarterfinal playoff games at the Boneyard. At 5:30 p.m, Gold Standard will take on REL. That game will be followed by the Tervo taking on SNB at 7:15 p.m.
The winners of these two games will play in the semifinals on Saturday at the Boneyard. There, they will face the league's top two teams, JB's and Superior Service.