Lake Linden-Hubbell pitcher Payton Goldsworthy connects with a pitch for a two-run home run during a game against Gogebic during the Copper Country Invite at the Gordy Schaff Field at the Hancock Driving Park. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — The defending Division 4 District 98 champion Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes softball team is off to the type of start that has them dreaming of another deep run this postseason already. With wins Saturday over the Gogebic Miners, 9-2, and the Rudyard Bulldogs, 13-4, during the Copper Country Invite, the Lakes improved to 14-0 at start the season.

“It’s really nice,” said Lakes coach Curtis Kinnunen, when asked about the quick start. “We ended the year, we made it to the regional championship, and I think our batting is a lot better this year. One through nine, we’re hitting the ball, we’re playing good defense, we have good pitching, we’re playing really good ball.”

Of course, when Kinnunen addresses his pitching, a large portion of that is sophomore Payton Goldsworthy. Against Gogebic, she went seven innings in the circle, striking out 12, walking one and giving up just three hits.

She also does it at the plate. In that opening game, she went 4-for-4 with a triple, two home runs, four runs scored and five RBI. In the game against Rudyard, she went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI.

“She’s a really good all around player,” Kinnunen said. “She’ll hit her home run, she’s striking people out, and she has her little sister chasing her, so that gives her more motivation.”

In the first game, the Lakes scored early, then added six runs over the final two innings to seal the win.

Centerfielder Ashlyn Steves led off with a walk to start the game. Two batters later, catcher Taylor Goldsworthy singled to center field. Payton Goldsworthy followed with a triple, scoring Taylor in the process. Second baseman Kyara Mills then singled to left, bringing Payton home. The Lakes led 2-0 at that point.

In the bottom of the second, the Miners evened things at 2-2. Lake Linden broke the tie in the fourth. Payton Goldsworthy led off with a single to center. Three batters later, shortstop Sophia Hampton reached on an error, scoring Goldsworthy.

The game remained 3-2 in favor of the Lakes until the top of the sixth. Payton Goldsworthy drilled a leadoff home run over the right field fence to get things started. Two batters later, Ella Schneiderhan reached on an error. Hampton then doubled to left. Left fielder Megan Sutherland grounded out, but Schneiderhan scored on the play, making it 5-2 Lake Linden.

In the top of the seventh, Lake Linden continued to manufacture runs.

First baseman Jovie Daniels got things started with a double to center field. Three batters later, Taylor Goldsworthy singled to center. Payton Goldsworthy then drove a ball over the center field fence for a three-run home run.

Mills walked. Schneiderhan singled to right field. Hampton then singled to second, scoring Mills.

Payton Goldsworthy got the Miners to go down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win.

Seven of the nine Lakes batters had at least one hit, which Kinnunen takes pride in.

“We’re solid hitting all around, so that’s really nice to see,” he said. “You have no weak link in the lineup right now.”

In their second game, the Lakes scored four runs in three different innings as part of their 13-run game.

It all started in the bottom of the first. Steves drew a walk to lead off. Cleo Milkey then walked. Taylor Goldsworth singled to center field, scoring Steves in the process. Milkey scored on a passed ball. Payton Goldsworthy then singled to left field, scoring Taylor.

Mills walked, then Schneiderhan grounded out, but not before Payton Goldsworthy scored to make it 4-0 Lake Linden.

Rudyard got one run back in the top of the second. Then they scored two more in the third to cut the Lakes’ lead to one, 4-3.

In the bottom of the third, Lake Linden got one back. Schneiderhan walked with one out. Hampton then grounded out, moving Schneiderhan to second. Sutherland then singled to center, bringing Schneiderhan home.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Lakes scored four again. It started with a one-out single by Taylor Goldsworthy. Payton Goldsworthy then singled to center field. A defensive error allowed Taylor to score and Payton to move to second before the play came to an end.

Mills walked. Hampton doubled to center two batters later, scoring Payton Goldsworthy as well. Sutherland doubled to right field, scoring Mills and Hampton. Lake Linden led 9-3 at that point.

The Bulldogs got one run back in the sixth, but that was as close as they got. Lake Linden had one more four-run inning in them.

Mills led off with a walk. Schneiderhan advanced her with a sacrifice. Hampton then singled to center field. Sutherland singled to right, scoring Mills. Two batters later, Steves singled to left, scoring Hampton.

Milkey then tripled to right field, bringing home Sutherland and Steves to make it 13-4, which the Lakes held on to.

Steves went all seven innings in the circle for the Lakes to earn the win. She struck out eight, walked six, and gave up six hits.

Up next

The Lakes are scheduled to be back in action Wednesday in a game against Hancock. Opening pitch is set for 4 p.m.