ISHPEMING — The Calumet Copper Kings softball team had a chance to be the second straight Copper Country squad to end the Negaunee Miners’ season in the District 65 finale. They led 4-0 after just one inning. However, the Miners outscored the Copper Kings 15-1 from there over the next five innings, including six in the third and seven more in the sixth to earn the win.

First baseman Chloe Coppo drove the Copper Kings’ offense by going 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs batted in.

After pitcher Lena Myhren held the Miners off the board in the top of the first, Calumet got to work in the bottom half of the inning. Left fielder Bethany Garrow drew a lead off walk. Shortstop Molly Erkkila singled. Myhren grounded out, but Garrow scored on the play. Catcher Isabella Coppo singled to center field, bringing Erkkila home and the Copper Kings led 2-0.

Then Chloe Coppo stepped to the plate.

She drilled the fourth pitch she saw over the right field fence for a two-run home run, and just like that, the Copper Kings had doubled their lead to 4-0.

Neither team found home plate in the second inning, but in the top of the third, the Miners exploded for six runs.

Calumet got one run back in the bottom half of the inning. Myhren led off with a double to center field. Three batters later, third baseman Kaydence Christopherson drew a walk. Claire Ruonavaara also walked, which loaded the bases with two outs. With right fielder Jaysa Wilks at the plate, Myhren scored on a wild pitch to cut Negaunee’s lead in half. However, Wilks then struck out to end the inning.

A home run by Kallen Schultz in the fourth put the Miners up three, 8-5. The game remained there until the sixth, when Negaunee scored five runs before Rheana Nelson hit a two-run home run to left field, putting the game out of reach.

Myhren threw three innings, giving up one walk and eight hits. Kaylee Newsom threw 2 1/3, walking two and giving up eight hits. Jailyn Poshak earned the final two outs for the Copper Kings pitching staff.

Copper Kings advance with win over Jets

In their semifinal matchup with the Jeffers Jets, the Copper Kings scored early, then added six runs in the third and three in the fifth to put the game out reach to advance to the district final.

Wilks was outstanding at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Isabella Coppo was also good, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.

Myhren had a two-out double to rally Calumet in the bottom of the first inning. Isabella Coppo brought her home with a double to center field.

Jeffers roared back in the top of the third. Third baseman Ana Sudderth led off with a single. Center fielder Kylee Andrews singled to center field. Pitcher Janet Mattila then singled to right field, loading the bases. Shortstop Meg Ruohonen doubled to center, clearing the bases and putting the Jets up 3-1.

Erkkila sparked the Copper Kings in the bottom half of the inning. She was hit by a pitch. Myhren then walked. Isabella Coppo singled to right field, scoring both runners. Chloe Coppo singled to right field. Christopherson then singled to left field, bringing both runners home.

Two batters later, Wilks singled to center, scoring Christopherson. She then scored on a Poshak triple to right field and Calumet led 7-3.

The score remained there until the bottom of the fifth. Christopherson reached on an error. Two batters later, Wilks singled to left, scoring Christopherson. Two batters after that, Garrow walked. Erkkila then singled to right field, scoring Wilks. Garrow scored on a wild pitch that also put Myhren on base as a dropped third strike. A pop out by Isabella Coppo ended the inning with no more damage done.

In the seventh, Jeffers rallied for a pair of runs. Andrews reached on an error with one out. Two batters later, Ruohonen hit a two-run home run to right field on the second pitch of the at-bat. A ground out by first baseman Naomi Frahm ended the game at that point.

Myhren threw four innings to earn the win, striking out six, giving up six hits, and walking none. Newsom pitched three innings, striking out three, walking one, and giving up two hits.

Mattila threw six innings in the loss for the Jets. She struck out four, walked two and gave up 10 hits.