Hancock pitcher Lucy Biekkola looks at a pitch coming in during a game against Jeffers Thursday at Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

HANCOCK — The softball gods were looking down kindly upon the Hancock Driving Park on Thursday as high school softball opened up to 60-degree weather, sunny skies and the best part–no wind. It felt more like May 16, as opposed to April 16, and no one was complaining.

On the field for their first doubleheader were the Hancock Bulldogs and the Jeffers Jets. The Bulldogs won the opener, 6-5, and lost to the Jets, 12-6, in the nightcap.

Both coaches were pleased with the effort given what little time they have had in actual outdoor practices.

“I liked both games to be honest,” said Jets coach Wes Frahm. “Everybody contributed. Our pitchers threw more strike outs than walks. Our freshmen in the outfield made catches for outs. What else can you ask for.”

Hancock coach Craig Biekkola echoed a similar sentiment.

“There are things we need to work on,” he said, “but overall I am happy with our first live-action play.”

Hancock’s Lucy Biekkola was in the circle for the Bulldogs in the opener, and the Jets knocked her around for four runs in the first. Scoring that frame were Meg Ruohonen and Svea Johnson, who both walked. Also scoring were catcher Naomi Frahm, who reached on an error, and pitcher Janet Mattila, who had the only hit of the inning.

It was 4-0 until the top of the third when the Bulldogs tallied two.

The girls in white added another in the fourth, and tied and went ahead with a two-run fifth frame. Scoring that inning were third baseman Emory Chynoweth and outfielder Vaeda Brooks.

“I liked how we fought back to win the first game,” said Craig. “We were down early, but the girls did not hang their heads. We chipped away, and we took the lead.”

While the Jets tied in the bottom of the fifth with a Meg Ruohonen home run at 5-5, the Bulldogs added the winning run in the sixth to seal the deal.

Lucy Biekkola went the distance with seven innings. She struck out the side to lose the seventh. She had a total of seven strikeouts and just three walks for the win.

In the nightcap, the Bulldogs took an early 1-0 win after the first inning. Shortstop Kaelyn Rouleau walked and later scored the first run of the game.

With Diem Kilpela in the circle for the Bulldogs and Ellie Kuentze pitching for the Jets, that is how the score remained until the top of the fourth.

Jets coach Frahm summed up what happened next.

“Our bats came alive in game two,” he said. “We got key hits with runners in scoring position.”

That amounted to four runs in the fourth and another four in the fifth frame. In the fourth, walks to Johnson, Mattila, Pearl Raffaelli, and Kuentze all led to runs. Second baseman KayDee Archambeau contributed an RBI hit along the way.

The fifth was much the same for the Jets. Three walks issued by Hancock’s Diem Kilpela and a hit-by-pitch added another four runs. It was now an 8-2 Jets lead after five, and the Jets were still flying high with two more in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

Heading into their final at-bat the Bulldogs were down by 10 (12-2).

While they rallied for four, it was not enough.

Kuentze earned the win for the Jets. She went all seven innings and struck out 11 along the way with just four walks.

Up next

The Jets will travel to L’Anse Wednesday, weather permitting, to take on the Purple Hornets. The doubleheader will start at 4 p.m. Hancock battled Houghton Friday. They will return home to face Gwinn Monday, starting at 4 p.m.

Jeffers pitcher Janet Mattila winds and throws from the circle Thursday in a game against Hancock at Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)