Lake Linden-Hubbell pitcher Payton Goldsworthy discards her bat during her two-run home run in the first inning of a game against Hancock Wednesday at the Boneyard in Lake Linden. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

LAKE LINDEN — One pitch was the difference Wednesday between the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes softball team remaining undefeated, and them being in a scoreless battle headed for extra innings against the visiting Hancock Bulldogs. When the smoke cleared, the Lakes won the game 2-0, and extended their season-opening run to 15-0 at the Boneyard.

On a rainy-snowy afternoon, the weather played as big a role in the game as did the pitching and timely defense.

Lakes centerfielder Ashlyn Steves drew a walk to open the game. She stole second, and after Cleo Milkey flew out, Steves was stuck at second. Then came pitcher Payton Goldsworthy.

She took a ball on the first pitch, then fouled off two straight before she got one she could turn around on, and she launched that pitch over the center field fence for a two-run home run.

“That’s all it takes sometimes,” said Lakes coach Curtis Kinnunen. “Especially when the weather’s like this.”

On the other side of the field, Bulldogs coach Craig Biekkola admitted the pitch was just a little too perfect for the Lake’s top hitter.

“It was one pitch that was in a little too close for a top notch batter, and Goldsworthy took advantage of it,” he said.

Craig liked a lot of what he saw from his team.

“Other than that, I thought it was a great game,” he said. “Defensively, pitching, we had some good cuts, had some good line shots. We had chances to score. We just weren’t able to punch them in.”

The Lakes didn’t score the large number of runs they are accustomed to, but that did not stop them from playing as strong as they could.

“We only had two runs, but we kept battling,” Kinnunen said. “They don’t give up. That’s the big thing, they don’t give up, ever.”

Goldsworthy finished 1-for-1 with a run scored, two RBI, and two walks at the plate. She also struck out 16 over seven innings, walked three, and gave up just three hits.

When asked what makes the third-year varsity player so special, Kinnunen did not mince words.

“Just her leadership,” he said. “I mean, she gets everybody in the game. She keeps everybody in the game, and she’s just a really good leader.”

Craig Biekkola said the sophomore, who is in her third year on the varsity squad, is a very poised pitcher.

“Well, pitching-wise, she has a good mix of pitches, so you have to be ready for some heat,” he said. “But then she can throw a good change up or something off speed. It’s hard to get timing with her.

“We have to get better at just making sure we make contact. She’s providing the power. We just have to get good swings and get the ball put into play.”

The Bulldogs got three total hits off the Lakes’ starter in the top of the seventh inning, from two of the unlikeliest hitters. Left fielder Tally Storm popped a fly ball up behind Payton Goldsworthy and the ball dropped short of second baseman Kyara Mills. Then right fielder Jana Pietila singled on a grounder back to Goldsworthy, and with two outs, Hancock appeared to have something brewing. However, shortstop Kaelyn Rouleau flew out to end the inning and the game.

“They (the Lakes) understand they’re a good team, and they don’t ever give up,” said Kinnunen. “You can put three runners on, and they will still just be relaxed and make those plays.”

Still, getting hits from the bottom of the lineup off a pitcher like Goldsworthy is a huge step for the Bulldogs.

“They’re some of the more inexperienced players we have, but they’re showing up, and they’re improving,” Craig Biekkola said. “They’re giving everything they got, and it’s going to pay off for us as we get a little bit deeper into the season.”

Hancock pitcher Lucy Biekkola did the best she could to match the Lakes’ ace. She went six innings, striking out five, walking three, and giving up just four hits.

“She’s throwing pitches there, she’s throwing strikes, letting our defense make the plays,” said Craig Biekkola, her father. “We’ve been pretty good defensively, and as long as she throws strikes, and doesn’t walk batters.

“She has some pretty good speed, too. She can strike out some batters, so as long as she’s throwing strikes, and our defense plays well, we have a shot.”

Up next

Hancock will be back in action Friday when they face Kingsford at the Bill Givens Field at the Hancock Driving Park. Lake Linden faced Baraga Thursday.

Hancock pitcher Lucy Biekkola extends as she prepares to deliver a pitch during a game against Lake Linden-Hubbell Wednesday at the Boneyard in Lake Linden. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)