Hancock catcher Brooke Koskela turns past second base during a game against Coleman during the Copper Country Softball Invite Saturday at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — With a near-perfect day in terms of weather Saturday, there were plenty of reasons for the Hancock Bulldogs softball team to feel good about their afternoon experience despite blowing an early lead in a 13-9 loss to the Coleman Cougars at the Hancock Driving Park. They bounced back in the best way in their second game of the afternoon, a 13-0 blanking of the Niagara Badgers.

“The bats were alive the first couple innings,” said Bulldogs coach Craig Biekkola. “We scored a bunch of runs, and yeah, the bats went quiet for the third, fourth, fifth and sixth, didn’t score any runs, and they chipped away at it. They had some good hitters. They started hitting the gaps. Pitching-wise, we had too many walks and good teams will take advantage of that.”

The Bulldogs hosted the Copper Country Softball Invite in part to have teams like Coleman come up to the Copper Country, but also to expose other local teams to quality opponents they might not normally see.

In the opener for the Bulldogs, the Cougars struck first in the first inning.

Looking to respond quickly, Sophie Freeman got things rolling for the Bulldog with a line drive to center field. Freeman stole second before Kaelyn Rouleau singled to bring her home. Brooke Koskela then doubled to left field, putting both runners in scoring position.

While Lucy Biekkola grounded out, Rouleau scored and Koskela advanced to third. Sadie Biekkola hit a sacrifice fly that scored Koskela and suddenly the Bulldogs led 3-1.

In the second, Hancock was at it again. Mallory Sporalski walked. Alice Larson doubled to center field and the Bulldogs again had a runner in scoring position even though Sporalski was thrown out trying for third. Romey Koskela singled on a pop fly, which gave Larson time to score from third after she stole it two pitches later. Freeman doubled to center field to put two runners in scoring position. Koskela scored by stealing home.

Rouleau singled to left field to bring Freeman home and suddenly Hancock led by five, 6-1.

Over the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, the Cougars scored 11 times to take a 12-6 lead. They added another in the top of the seventh, and led by seven with just three outs left for the Hancock offense.

Despite the daunting task, the Bulldogs got to work.

Brooke Koskela laid down a bunt and beat it to first. Lucy Biekkola followed with a double to left field, which scored Koskela. Sadie Biekkola then hit a home run over the center field fence and suddenly Hancock trailed 13-9.

Vaeda Brooks singled to center field and the Bulldogs’ rally appeared to be continuing. However, Sporalski lined out to center. Larson then singled, but Romey Koskela struck out. Freeman stepped to the plate with a final chance to keep the game alive, but she grounded out, ending the game.

Sadie Biekkola went 4 2/3 innings in the pitcher’s circle, striking out eight, but she also walked seven while giving up 10 hits. Lucy Biekkola finished the game, striking out three and walking two over 2 1/3.

Despite the score, Craig Biekkola liked exposing his team to tough competition.

“That’s why I invited this team up,” he said. “We played them last year, knew that they’d be good, and that they have girls that can hit. You like to get wins all the time, but this should make us a better team as the season goes along.”

In their game against the Badgers, the Bulldogs racked up five runs in the first inning and never looked back.

With one out in the first, Rouleau laid down a bunt and reached first. Lucy Biekkola followed with a single to left field. Sadie Biekkola then tripled to right field, scoring two runs. Diem Kilpela walked and Romey Koskela then singled, which brought Sadie Biekkola home.

Chloe Bastian walked, which loaded the bases before Tatum Sporalski was hit by a pitch, scoring Kilpela on the play. Emily L’Esperance then singled, scoring Bastian.

In the second, Rouleau led off with a single to center field. Lucy Biekkola doubled, scoring Rouleau. Two batters later, Romey Koskela grounded out, but Lucy Biekkola scored on the play to make it 7-0 Hancock.

In the fourth inning, Hancock was at it again. Lucy and Sadie Biekkola both walked. Kilpela then single, scoring Lucy. Romey Koskela then knocked Sadie home with a single and the Bulldogs led at that point, 9-0.

L’Esperance led off the fifth with a home run to center field. Two batters later, Rouleau doubled to center field. Lucy Biekkola followed with a double of her own to left field, scoring Rouleau. Kilpela doubled to center field two batters later, scoring Biekkola. Romey Koskela then singled to bring Kilpela home and put the hosts up by the final margin.

Lucy Biekkola went all five innings in the pitcher’s circle, striking out eight and walking one while surrendering seven hits.

Garrow goes for the cycle

Calumet catcher Bethany Garrow hit for the cycle in the Copper Kings’ win over the Menominee Maroons in the final game of the tournament Saturday.

She led off with a home run to center field to start the bottom of the first inning. When she next appeared in the third, she singled.

Her double in the fifth scored Jaysa Wilks and put the Copper Kings, who started the inning trailing 13-4, within striking distance at 13-10. Her second at bat of the fifth was when she completed the cycle with a triple, which scored Amina Tarnowski and Wilks, putting Calumet up 18-13 at that point.

Wilks scored again in the sixth to close out the game on a wild pitch.

Calumet’s wild inning

Garrow hit twice in the fifth as the Copper Kings batted around twice and scored 18 runs to turn a 13-4 deficit into a 22-13 lead.

Every Calumet batter, except for Kaylee Newsom finished with at least one hit in the game. Garrow led the way with four hits, including two in the big inning.

Lena Myhren, Isabella Coppo, Chloe Coppo, and Clare Ruonavaara all had two hits in the game.