Jeffers pitcher Blake Heltunen delivers a pitch during a game against L’Anse Wednesday, in L’Anse. The Jets won both of those games, but dropped a pair to Hancock Saturday. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HANCOCK — With smart pitching, and timely hitting, the Hancock Bulldogs baseball team continued their unbeaten start to the season Saturday with a sweep of the Jeffers Jets at the Hancock Driving Park. They defeated the Jets 10-7 in the opener and followed that up with a 3-0 win to improve to 3-0 on the season.

The Bulldogs did not overwhelm Jets pitching, but they relied on collecting hits in key moments. In the nightcap, Nate Thompson went six innings on the mound for the Bulldogs, striking out nine, walking four, and giving up no hits over 96 pitches to earn the win.

In the opening game, the Jets jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Bulldogs chipped away until the fifth inning, when they scored five runs to put the game out of reach.

The Jets had made the score 7-5 in the top half of the inning. Pitcher Levi Kinnunen drew a lead off walk. He stole second, and later third. Then a line drive by right fielder Cameron Anderson to right field allowed him to score.

Hancock was looking for a spark in the bottom half of the inning, and in the span of six batters, scoring the five runs necessary to turn the game in their favor.

It all started with a leadoff walk by Thompson. Five pitches later, Isaac Wanhala walked. Left fielder Evan Pennala then bunted and reached first, loading the bases as right fielder Trent Pietila walked to the plate.

Pietila walked, scoring Thompson. Shortstop Connor Helminen then singled to left field, which brought home Wanhala and Pennala and put the Bulldogs up 8-7.

They weren’t done.

Pietila and Helminen both scored on the same wild pitch. Centerfielder Todd Kilpela kept the string of success going with a single to left field during the same at bat. Pitcher Ben Keranen walked before second baseman Caleb Isaacson singled to left to load the bases. However, catcher Luciano Paoli grounded into a double play. With two men on, Thompson was hit by a pitch, loading the bases again, but Wanhala popped out to end the threat, but not before Hancock held a three-run lead that the Jets could not overcome.

Jeffers had opened the game the way they wanted to. Centerfielder Brogan Turner led off with a walk. Three batters later, third baseman Blake Heltunen walked. Then first baseman Brexton Kinnunen doubled to left, scoring both runners in the process.

The Bulldogs responded quickly in the bottom half of the first inning. Helminen singled to short to lead off. Kilpela drew a walk. Then Keranen singled to second, which brought Helminen home. With Isaacson at the plate, Kilpela and Keranen both scored on the same wild pitch.

Two batters later, third baseman Braydon Larson walked. Wanhala followed with a single to center field, but the inning ended when Pennala grounded into a fielder’s choice.

The Jets evened things in the top of the third. Heltunen reached on a defensive error with one out. Brexton Kinnunen doubled to center, scoring Heltunen.

In the bottom of the third, Hancock got back to work. Paoli drew a one-out walk. He was caught trying to steal second, but the Bulldogs got another baserunner quickly as Larson was hit by a pitch during the same at bat.

Wanhala reached on an error, and suddenly Hancock had something brewing. Pennala singled to right field, bringing Gage Chynoweth, who had taken over for Larson at second base as a courtesy runner, home. Then Wanhala scored by stealing home.

Jeffers scored three runs in the top of the fourth to take their second lead of the game.

Anderson got things started with a leadoff single to left field. Turner reached on an error. Two batters later, left fielder Chad Isaacson laid down a bunt and reached safely. Anderson scored on the play. Heltunen then walked to load the bases.

Brexton Kinnunen walked, which scored Turner. Catcher Pierce Johnson was then hit by a pitch, scoring Isaacson, and the Jets led 6-5.

Keranen went 3 1/3 innings for the Bulldogs on the mound, striking out seven, walking six, and giving up four hits. Helminen came in and pitched 2 2/3 in relief, striking out two, walking one, and giving up two hits to earn the win.

Levi Kinnunen went four innings in the loss for the Jets. He struck out four, walked nine, and gave up five hits. Helunent pitched one inning in relief, walking one and surrendering three hits.

In the second game, the Bulldogs scored twice early and added one run later for insurance.

In the bottom of the first, Kilpela came up with a one-out single to center field to get things started. Keranen quickly brought him home with a single to center. Two batters later, Paoli walked. Then Wanhala singled to center field, scoring Keranen. The Bulldogs led 2-0 at that point.

The game stayed that way until the third, when Hancock added a run. With two outs, Larson walked. Thompson followed with a walk as well. Then right fielder Ted Kilpela singled to left field, which brought Larson home.

Helminen flew out to end the inning.

Neither team scored after that point before the final out was recorded.

Anderson got the start for the Jets, going three innings, striking out four, walking three, and surrendering seven hits. Kasen Helminen came in and pitched 1 2/3 in relief, striking out three, walking one, and giving up one hit. Johnson pitched 1/3 of an inning to finish the game.

Up next

Hancock will be back in action Tuesday when they face Houghton. Despite the games being home games for the Gremlins, they will be played at the Hancock Driving Park. Opening pitch is set for 4 p.m.

The Jets are also scheduled to be in action Tuesday at Norway. Opening pitch is set for 4 p.m.