The Calumet softball team poses after a successful day in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where they won both games they played. They were joined by both Notre Dame Academy and Green Bay Southwest for the photo. The Copper Kings are: Bethany Garrow, Molly Erkkila, Chloe Coppo, Jailyn Poshak, Kaydence Christopherson, Clara Isaacson, Danni Stites, Trinity Rajala, Elisa Laplander, Jaysa Wilks, and Amiina Tarnowski. (Photo provided)

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Hitting the road last Friday, the Calumet Copper Kings had a strong weekend in Green Bay, Wisconsin, defeating the Green Bay Southwest Fighting Trojans, 12-6, then the Lena Wildcats, 16-3. In both games, the Copper Kings offense was balanced, which gave nearly every batter a chance to chip in.

Against Southwest, Calumet jumped out to a 3-1 lead, saw that lead disappear in the fifth inning, only to storm back in the sixth and seventh with seven runs to seal the win.

Catcher Bethany Garrow got things started with a leadoff single to second. Two batters later, first baseman Chloe Coppo doubled to left field, which scored Garrow. Center fielder Jailyn Poshak walked. Third baseman Kaydence Christopherson reached on a dropped third strike, which loaded the bases. Left fielder Jaysa Wilks walked, which scored Coppo. Then pitcher Danni Stites followed with a single to left field, which scored Poshak and put Calumet up 3-0 at that point.

Southwest got one back in the bottom of the first, and the game stayed 3-1 in favor of Calumet until the top of the fourth.

With one out, second baseman Clara Isaacson reached on an error, and reached second before the play came to an end. Right fielder Amiina Tarnowski followed with a single to right field. Two batters later, shortstop Molly Erkkila singled to right field, and both Isaacson and Tarnowski scored.

Calumet then held the 5-1 lead until the bottom of the fifth, when Southwest notched four runs to even things up.

In the top of the sixth, the Copper Kings needed to bounce back, and they did in a big way.

Stites was hit by a pitch to start things off. Isaacson doubled to left field. Right fielder Elisa Laplander then singled to right field, scoring Stites. After a pitching change, Garrow walked, loading the bases. Two batters later, Coppo sacrificed to score Isaacson.

Center fielder Trinity Rajala was hit by a pitch. She was replaced on the basepaths by Poshak. Christopherson walked, which scored Laplander. Wilks then singled to second, bringing both Poshak and Garrow home. The Copper Kings led 10-5 at that point.

Southwest got one run back in the bottom half of the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Isaacson led off with a walk. Two batters later, Garrow walked. Erkkila followed with a single to load the bases. Coppo then singled to center, scoring Isaacson and Garrow and giving the Calumet a 12-6 advantage, which they held on to for the win.

Stites went seven innings in the circle, striking out 10, walking four, and giving up just three hits to earn the win for the Copper Kings.

In the second game of the day, the Copper Kings faced the Lena Wildcats. Calumet jumped out to a 3-0 lead before a 10-run fourth inning blew the doors wide open. From there, they held the Wildcats to just three runs over the final two innings to seal the win in five innings.

Garrow led off with a single to third. Erkkila reached on an error. Two batters later, Poshak grounded out, but Garrow scored.

The game remained 1-0 until the top of the third. Erkkila got things started with a leadoff single. Two batters later, Poshak reached on an error after Erkkila scored. Christopher then reached on an error, and Poshak scored on the play, giving Calumet the 3-0 lead.

The big inning that was the Copper Kings’ fourth, started innocently with a Stites single. Laplander reached on an error. Due to runner substitutions, Isaacson replaced Stites, and then Stites replaced Laplander. Tarnowski was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Garrow singled to right field, which scored Isaacson and Stites. Erkkila singled to center, scoring Laplander and Calumet led 6-0 at that point.

Coppo reached on an error, which scored Garrow and Tarnowski. Poshak followed with a sacrifice fly, which scored Erkkila. Christopherson singled to short. Isaacson reached on an error to keep the inning going. Stites singled to third, scoring Poshak. Wilks then singled, scoring Christopherson. Tarnowski then reached on an error, scoring Wilks and putting the Copper Kings up 13-0.

The Wildcats got one run back in the bottom of the fourth, however Calumet got right back to work in the fifth.

Coppo led off with a single to right field. Poshak tripled to right, scoring Coppo in the process. Two batters later, Isaacson walked. Two batters after that, Laplander singled to left. A wild pitch allowed Laplander to score and make it 16-1. Tarnowski flew out to end the inning.

Lena scored two runs in the bottom half of the fifth, but it was not enough to keep the Copper Kings from winning by mercy.

Poshak got the win in the circle, going five innings, striking out 10, walking six, and giving up just one hit.