Jeffers’ Pearl Raffaelli connects with a pitch during a Division 3 District 65 semifinal game Thursday at Legion Field in Calumet. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

CALUMET — Before the Calumet Copper Kings softball team won their first district title in school history, they needed to get past a much-improved Jeffers Jets squad Thursday afternoon at Legion Field. With five runs in the first inning, and five more in the seventh, the Copper Kings were able to advance to the championship game in a game that ended 12-4, but felt much closer than that.

“Jeffers is a solid team,” said Copper Kings coach Joel Rastello. “They’re going to fight hard. They’re well coached, and (they are) kind of no surprises, really.”

Calumet jumped ahead 5-0 in the top of the first inning, and then added a pair of runs in the fifth to get to a 7-0 lead. However, the Jets fought back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, and two more in the seventh.

Even though pitcher Danni Stites gave the Copper Kings a great game, striking out nine, walking four, and surrendering just five hits over seven innings, Rastello was proud of the way she battled through things once the Jets found runs.

“Well, the big thing is, Danni didn’t lose her cool,” Rastello said. “Danni, our pitcher, sometimes she can struggle a little bit after a little bit of adversity, but she’s been really coming around, battling through that. She’s just a sophomore, so the future is bright for her.”

Stites went all seven innings in the circle, striking out nine, walking four, and giving up just five hits.

Despite falling behind early, Jets coach Wes Frahm was proud of the way his team responded after the tough first inning.

“I want to first say I’m thrilled with our effort, thrilled with how far we’ve come,” he said. “I thought our defense played really well. Tip of the cap to Calumet, they hit the ball, and they hit the ball where we weren’t and earned everything they had. I don’t know that we had an unearned run today.”

Frahm was especially proud of the effort of his starting pitcher, Janet Mattila, who went the distance in the circle, striking out six, walking three, and surrendering 12 hits.”

“For them to put up 12 earned runs, I thought Janet did a good job on the mound. I thought defense made the plays that they needed to make when they came to them. That’s the (game), sometimes the ball goes where you’re not. Credit to Calumet for hitting the ball well today.”

Things happened very quickly in the first inning for the Copper Kings. Left fielder Bethany Garrow was hit by a pitch to get on base as the leadoff hitter. Two batters later, first baseman Chloe Coppo singled to right field. Centerfielder Jailyn Poshak walked to load the bases. Stites then doubled to center, scoring Erkkila, who had reached earlier on a fielder’s choice, and Coppo.

Right fielder Jaysa Wilks then doubled to left field, scoring Poshak and Stites. Two batters later, Wilks scored on a passed ball.

Already down by five, the Jets did not give up.

“Great character on this team,” said Wes Frahm. “We’ve been in that situation, unfortunately, before, and they’ve battled back. We’ve had a couple games where we were down early and came back and got wins. So, they knew that they were capable.

“I loved their response. We didn’t give up. We put some pressure on them, but unfortunately just couldn’t get that key hit when we needed it.”

The game remained 5-0 until the fifth. Erkkila led off with a walk. Coppo doubled to left field, scoring Erkkila in the process. Poshak doubled to right field, scoring Coppo, and Calumet led 7-0.

The Jets needed a response down to their final six outs. That number dropped to five after Mattila struck out to start the sixth, but right after, right fielder Elli Kuntze walked. Catcher Naomi Frahm walked. First baseman Svea Johnson was hit by a pitch, and suddenly Jeffers had the bases loaded. Two batters later, Pearl Raffaelli singled to right field, scoring Kuntze and Jordan Holombo, who came in to pinch run for Frahm.

Calumet responded heavily to giving up a pair of runs by scoring another five runs in the top of the seventh. Erkkila led off with a single. Coppo doubled to left field, scoring Erkkila. Coppo then scored on a single by Poshak to make it 9-2.

Stites singled to left. Wilks reached on a fielder’s choice. Two batters later, third baseman Kaydence Christopherson singled to right field, scoring Stites. Two batters after that, Wilks scored on a passed ball. Second baseman Millie Loukus singled to left field, scoring Christopherson. The score at that point was 12-2.

Shortstop Meg Ruohonen doubled to center field in the hopes of sparking another scoring run for the Jets. Two batters later, Kuntze singled to left. Naomi Frahm reached on an error, and Ruohonen scored on the play.

Johnson was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Kylee Andrews then reached on an error. Kuntze scored on the play.

The Jets could not add any further runs before the final out was recorded.