Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Emily Jokela (9) and Payton Goldsworthy (35) walk away from home plate after celebrating a home run hit by Jokela in the Division 4 District 98 championship game against Hancock Friday, May 30, at the Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. Both players earned All-State honorable mention Tuesday. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Multiple members of the Hancock Bulldogs and Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes softball teams were named to the Division 4 Region 25 team Monday afternoon. By Tuesday, four players from the All-Region team were also awarded honorable mention at the state level.

Hancock seniors Brooke Koskela and Sadie Biekkola, and Lake Linden-Hubbell senior Emily Jokela and freshman Payton Goldsworthy were all recognized by the state.

In the case of Koskela and Sadie Biekkola, both have been varsity players since they were freshmen.

“They’ve been very consistent over, actually, four seasons,” said Bulldogs coach Craig Biekkola. “They contributed a lot. From their freshman year on. They’ve been very consistent offensively and defensively. Two of the better players that I’ve seen locally over that time.

“I was very fortunate to be able to coach girls that are as well-rounded as they were, and they’ll be very difficult to replace.”

Craig Biekkola mentioned that the duo have grown up together, with Sadie pitching and Koskela catching, so they developed a very close relationship over the years.

“You know, having those two grow up over the years together in those positions, they work really well together,” he said. “A lot of games, it was those two. (They) kind of took command, especially in the field.

Offensively, they contributed a lot, too, with power and good baserunning. They’re very well- rounded players, and it took a lot of work. They obviously started in Little League and did a lot of travel ball, played against a lot of really good competition over the years as they were growing up.”

That experience gave both a chance to step in and contribute immediately to the Bulldogs, who won three district championships with the pair.

“They stepped right into high school and contributed right away,” Craig Biekkola said. “Each season it became more and more and more, the importance that they had within our program.”

Jokela and Goldsworthy were part of the Lakes’ first-ever district title last month.

“I’m very proud of both of them,” said Lakes coach Curtis Kinnunen.

Both players pitched as well as played shortstop, giving Kinnunen options whenever needed. He praised Jokela, who returned to softball and had a huge impact this season.

“Emily, she was lights-out pitching this year,” he said. “I don’t know if there was any better pitcher up here up our way anyway. She was just, every game, lights-out. I think she ended up with like 200-something strikeouts, and when she wasn’t pitching, she was solid at shortstop.

“Her hitting was really great this year too. I can’t remember what she ended up with, maybe 14 or something like that.”

Goldsworthy played her second full season of varsity softball and has already made a huge impact.

“Payton, she was strong at shortstop, she made countless (plays),” Kinnunen said. “I mean she was just a leader, always loud, saying where the play is. I think she ended up with like, I can’t remember how many home runs, 16, 17 home runs this year. Then when she wasn’t playing short, she was lights-out pitching too, with … I think she ended up with like maybe 150, 160 strikeouts. Those two were a big part of our team and our success this year.”

The duo spent most of the season batting one after the other all season long.

“You have one really great batter, and then you have to have another one right after that,” said Kinnunen. “You get one on base, normally they’re hitting each other in. It was really good to have that 1-2 combo.”

Kinnunen earned Coach of the Year honors for District 98. The Bulldogs earned the team Sportsmanship award for District 98.

Gogebic’s Kassi Huotari earned Region 25 Coach of the Year honors, along with District 97 honors.

In the outfield, Lake Linden’s Ashlyn Steves, a sophomore, who often led off for the Lakes throughout the season, was joined by Hancock’s Sofie Freeman, a senior, and Vaeda Brooks, a freshman. Also honored were Norway’s Jordyn Moln and Kaylee Baldwin.

Freeman hit .352 this season with eight doubles and three triples. Brooks hit .340 with two doubles.

In the infield, at first base, Lake Linden’s Alli Corrigan, a senior, was honored along with Norway’s Emma Dube.

At second, Hancock’s Romey Koskela was a unanimous pick as a freshman. She hit .337 with seven doubles.

At third, Lake Linden’s Cleo Milkey, a junior, who often batted second in the lineup for the Lakes, was honored along with Gogebic’s Emma Choronzy.

At shortstop, Goldsworthy, who hit 16 home runs this season, was honored along with Gogebic’s Emily DelFavero.

At catcher, Koskela was honored along with Gogebic’s Keira Graham.

Koskela hit .394 with eight doubles, one triple and three home runs. She also had .961 fielding percentage.

At pitcher, Sadie Biekkola and Jokela were named, along with Norway’s Kendall Burklund and Superior Central’s Samantha Johnson.

Biekkola went 8-11 in 20 appearances with 92 strikeouts and an earned run average of 3.88.

Hancock freshman Lucy Biekkola was honored as a utility player along with Norway’s Kara Stanchina.

Biekkola hit .374 with a team-high 13 doubles and six triples. Defensively, she was solid with a .882 fielding percentage.

At designated player, Hancock senior Emily L’Esperance was honored along with Norway’s Lilly Tomlanavich. L’Esperance hit .294 with two doubles and three home runs.

Gogebic’s Olivia Peterson was honored as an at-large player.

Hancock catcher Brooke Koskela takes off for first base during the championship game of the Division 4 District 98 Tournament against Lake Linden-Hubbell at Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. Koskela earned All-State honorable mention Tuesday. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

Hancock pitcher Sadie Biekkola connects with a pitch during the championship game of the Division 4 District 98 Tournament against Lake Linden-Hubbell at Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. Biekkola earned All-State honorable mention Tuesday. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)