Hancock second baseman Chloe Bastian celebrates after scoring a run during a game against Rudyard during the Copper Country Invite at the Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — While the Hancock Bulldogs softball season almost didn’t happen due to a lack of players in late January, the Bulldogs have put together a nice start to the season, including a win over the Rudyard Bulldogs, 10-0, and a 5-3 loss to the Gogebic Miners Saturday during the Copper Country Invite.

Coach Craig Biekkola is pleased with how Hancock has started the season. They are 5-2 after not participating in the Spring Swing in Marquette due to a lack of players at that point.

“We’re getting contributions from the top of the lineup to the bottom,” he said. “Good defense, solid pitching this early in the season, that’s a positive thing for us with this group.”

Hancock jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Rudyard, and played with the lead the rest of the way.

“We’re building confidence, which is great,” Craig said. “Coming into the season, I really had very little expectations. I didn’t know what to expect. We had some talent coming back, but a few girls that either have not played, or hadn’t played in many years. But, they’re showing up every day. It seems like they’re having fun.

“They’re excited, having fun every day, coming here. We’re having some success, which is great.”

It started with a leadoff single by shortstop Kaelyn Rouleau to third base. Second baseman Chloe Bastian walked. Pitcher Lucy Biekkola walked to load the bases. Centerfielder Vaeda Brooks then singled to left, scoring Rouleau.

Catcher Alice Larson tripled to center, scoring Bastian, Lucy Biekkola, and Brooks and Hancock led 4-0 at that point. First baseman Diem Kilpela walked. Third baseman Emery Chynoweth doubled to center field, scoring Larson and Kilpela.

The game remained 6-0 for Hancock until the top of the third. Kilpela led off with a walk. Two batters later, left fielder Tally Storm singled to left. Right fielder Jana Pietila then singled to center, scoring Chynoweth. Rouleau followed with a single to center, loading the bases. Bastian drew a walk, which scored Storm, making the game 8-0 at that point.

In the top of the fourth, Hancock continued to push. Larson led off with a single to left field. Kilpela then walked. Chynoweth singled to center, scoring Larson in the process. Storm then singled to right, scoring Kilpela.

Lucy Biekkola kept Rudyard off the board over the bottom of the fourth and the fifth to seal the win. She finished with 10 strikeouts, no walks, and just four hits over five innings to earn the win.

“She’s doing her part in the circle right now,” said Craig of his daughter. “She’s throwing strikes. She’s not walking batters, letting our defense make plays. She’s more of a command-type pitcher out there now, which we need, and yeah, she’s grown into the role.

“I think she was able to watch her older sister for a number of years, and watched how she developed. Lucy’s kind of following in those footsteps.”

In the second game, she returned to the circle and pitched another solid game, striking out seven, walking two, and giving up nine hits in the loss to Gogebic.

Hancock struck first. Rouleau led off with a triple to right field. Two batters later, Lucy Biekkola popped out, but Rouleau scored after tagging up.

In the third, Hancock struck again. Storm led off with a single to left field. Two batters later, Rouleau flew out, but Storm scored on the play.

Gogebic got a run back in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth, the added four runs to take a 5-2 lead.

The game remained 5-2 in favor of Gogebic into the top of the seventh. Hancock, looking for a spark, got it on a leadoff single from Larson to left field. Kilpela singled, putting runners on the corners. Chynoweth singled to short, scoring Larson.

Hancock still had a runner in Kilpela, at second. She was tagged out at second. Storm singled to third, putting another runner on base. However, Pietila popped out and then Rouleau flew out to end the game.

Up next

Hancock is scheduled to be back in action Tuesday when they host Calumet. Opening pitch is set for 4 p.m.