The Calumet softball team poses after winning the Division 3 District 65 title over Westwood Thursday at Legion Field in Calumet. The Copper Kings are: Maddy Myhren, Martina Poli, Millie Loukus, Khloe Carlson, Kira Diaz, Jaysa Wilks, Molly Erkkila, Amiina Tarnowski, Abby Bausano, Eliza Laplander, Chloe Coppo, Cali Hodges, Bethany Garrow, Aili McKinstry, Lila Hyrkas, Jailyn Poshak, Cara Halonen, Kavexah Harris-Berryman, Kaydence Christopherson, Trinity Rajala, Kendra Dresch, Clara Isaacson, and Danni Stites. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

CALUMET — It was, by no means, easy, but then doing something your school has never done should be difficult.

On their own field Thursday, the Calumet Copper Kings softball team won their first-ever district championship with a 4-3 win over the visiting Westwood Patriots in extra innings at Legion Field.

The district victory was the first ever for the Copper Kings.

Part of the reason for the need for another inning was the way Patriots pitcher Sami Ruby delivered the ball. According to coach Joel Rastello, his team needed to find patience at the plate.

“This pitcher was a little bit tricky to hit,” he said. “She doesn’t throw typically hard. (She throws) a little bit loopy. The girls finally started being patient and were able to start teeing off on them.”

The key, according to Rastello, in the bottom of the eighth, was having left fielder Bethany Garrow coming to the plate first, followed by shortstop Molly Erkkila and first baseman Chloe Coppo.

“It helped when we had the top order coming,” Rastello said. “Beth got on, and she was due. I figured once she got on, we were probably going to win, because she was going to get to second, (then) somebody was going to drive her in.”

Garrow did just that. She singled to center field. She stole second with Erkkila at the plate. Then Erkkila drilled a ball to short. The Patriots’ Lyn Magnuson picked the ball up and had a choice, either tag Garrow, who was heading for third, or throw to first and try to get Erkkila. Garrow slammed on the brakes about halfway to third, and Magnuson chose to throw to first instead of trying for the tag. Her throw missed its target, and Garrow reached third safely while Erkkila was also safe at first due to the errant throw.

Two batters later, centerfielder Jailyn Poshak hit a fly ball to right field that Patriots right fielder Calee Tasson missed, which gave Garrow the chance to score.

Rastello was very proud of Garrow for finding a way to get on base to set up the rest of the inning.

“It was great, because she’s so hard on herself when things don’t go well,” he said. “It was good for her ego and confidence.”

The game was scoreless into the third inning before Magnuson singled to right field to score Anika Ruspakka, who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.

In the bottom half of the inning, Calumet’s first two batters went down on back-to-back ground outs. Erkkila then drew a walk. She moved to second on a passed ball before Coppo singled to center field Erkkila scored on the play. Then Poshak doubled to right field, which gave Coppo time to score. Poshak tried for third on the play, but was tagged as she reached the base.

Westwood tied the game in the top of the fifth. Magnuson tripled to right field with one out. Grace Tossava flew out, but Magnuson managed to score after tagging.

Calumet regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, second baseman Millie Loukus walked. Garrow then doubled to center field, putting two runners in scoring position. Erkkila then laid down a bunt and reached on an error, scoring Loukus. Garrow tried to score on the play as well, but she was caught at the plate and tagged out, keeping the Patriots within a run, 3-2.

The Patriots evened things again in the top of the seventh. With two outs, Magnuson singled to right field. Tossava then hit a grounder and reached on a defensive error. Magnuson scored on the play, and Tossava got to third. However, a pop-out by Makayla Fisher ended the threat.

Danni Stites got the start in the circle for the Copper Kings. She struck out 10 over eight innings. She walked two and surrendered six hits to earn the win.

Ruby went 7 1/3 for the Patriots. She walked two and gave up six hits over the course of the game to take the loss.

The Copper Kings got to the title game by defeating the Jeffers Jets in the first semifinal, 12-4, in a game that was closer than the score indicated. Westwood clinched a spot in the championship by defeating the Gwinn Modeltowners, 20-0, in the other semifinal.

Up next

With the win, the Copper Kings move on to the regional tournament in Cheboygan, where they will face the winner of District 67, which includes Cheboygan, Boyne City, Charlevoix, and Elk Rapids.

“I don’t know who we’re going to play,” said Rastello. “(It’s) probably going to be Gladstone or something. They’re all good. We have to play our best to be able to win down there. It’ll be fun.

“This is our first district win, and it’ll be fun to get to regionals.”