Calumet pitcher Lena Myhren (2) celebrates with teammates Molly Erkkila (8), Isabella Coppo (13) and Chloe Coppo (12) after hitting an inside-the-park home run during the first inning of a game against Gwinn Tuesday at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — With district tournaments coming up later in the week, the Calumet Copper Kings are into their final tuneups prior to Saturday. Tuesday, they faced the Gwinn Modeltowners in a single-game conference matchup, and they were able to get their bats going early and often in a 19-1 win at the Hancock Driving Park.

With the win, the Copper Kings improved to 13-10 on the season.

Pitcher Lena Myhren drove the Copper Kings’ offense by going 4-for-4 with an inside-the-park home run, and two doubles. She knocked in two runs while scoring all four times she made it on base.

She also pitched two strong innings in the pitcher’s circle, striking out four, walking one, and giving up just two hits. Kaylee Newsom pitched one inning in relief, striking out three.

“We’re trying to get all these games in,” said Copper Kings coach Joel Rastello. “This is a conference game against Gwinn. Gwinn is struggling a little bit, but their second pitcher was pretty good. We always hit good against better pitching, so we hit her pretty good, didn’t allow many runs, (and) played good defense. That was kind of the emphasis of the game today to play good defense.

We knew we were going to score runs.”

In total, the Copper Kings had 19 hits, 10 RBI, and two walks in the game.

“We’re hitting really well,” said Rastello. “I don’t know where our team batting average is right now, probably over .350. So, we’re pretty happy with that.

“The better pitching (we see), the better we get.”

Things started quickly for Calumet in the top of the first inning. Left fielder Bethany Garrow drew a walk to lead off. Shortstop Molly Erkkila followed with a single on a line drive to center field, which brought Garrow home. Then Myhren drilled a ball all the way to the right field fence and raced around the bases, scoring both Erkkila and herself on the play.

The inning continued with first baseman Chole Coppo singling to center field two batters later. Second baseman Clare Ruonavaara was hit by a pitcher and third baseman Kaydence Christopherson reached on a single on a grounder near first base, which loaded the bases. Right fielder Jaysa Wilks hit a ground ball to follow, and she reached first on an error, which scored Coppo in the process and put the Copper Kings up 4-0 at that point.

After a 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning, in which Myhren struck out two, Calumet got back to work quickly in the top of the second.

Erkkila led off by reaching first after she was hit by a pitch. Myhren then doubled to right field, putting both runners into scoring position. Erkkila scored on a wild pitch. Catcher Isabella Coppo doubled to left field, scoring Myhren. Coppo then scored on a wild pitch.

Ruonavaara singled on a pop up to second base. Christoperson then singled to left field. Wilks singled to left field as well to load the bases. Newsom grounded out, but not before scoring Ruonavaara. Calumet led at that point, 8-0.

Gwinn got a run back in the bottom half of the inning when Shawna Sundholm drew a lead-off walk, and later scored on a single by Andi Roberts.

That was as close as the Modeltowners got, as the Copper Kings struck 11 times in the top of the third to put the game out of reach.

Erkkila led off with a single to right field. Myhren singled to center field. As the ball continued to bounce to the fence, an error allowed Erkkila to score and Myhren to safely get to third. Myhren then scored on a wild pitch. Isabella Coppo drew a walk.

Three batters later, Christopherson singled to center field. An error on the play allowed Coppo to score. Wilks was then hit by a pitch, putting runners on the corners. Christopherson scored on a wild pitch. Newsom reached on an error, and Wilks scored.

Up 13-1 at that point, the offense continued to click for the Copper Kings as Garrow tripled to center, scoring Newsom. Erkkila then singled to right field, scoring Garrow. While the play was still live, an error allowed Erkkila to round the bases and come home safely.

Myhren doubled to right field. Isabella Coppo singled to center, scoring Myhren. Chloe Coppo reached first safely on a dropped third strike, scoring Isabella in the process. Ruonavaara singled to right field, moving Chloe Coppo to third. Amiina Tarnowski singled to center to bring her home.