The L’Anse softball team poses after winning the Division 4 District 98 trophy Thursday in L’Anse. The Purple Hornets are: Kwynn Voskuhl, Kylie Fish, Alice Curtis, Lola Cichosz, Willow Rexford, Ella Sommer, Aubrey Haanpaa, Lindsay Biekkola, Tessa Thor, Sylvia Allen, Kenzie Bianco, Kiera Dix, Bella Kokko, Tori Ahola, Ella Roy, and Abbie Linn. Also pictured are coaches Brandon Marinich and Reeyce Fish. (Eddie O’Neill/For the Gazette)

L’ANSE — The L’Anse Purple Hornets softball team made postseason winning look easy on Thursday as their opponents were at their “mercy.” They opened the afternoon with a 13-3 mercy win over their cross-town rivals Baraga. Then they defeated Crystal Falls Forest Park, 18-3, in four innings to win the Division 4 District 98 trophy.

In the title game, it was the Crystal Falls Forest Park Trojans who got on the scoreboard first with a run in the first inning. An error at shortstop led to second-spot hitter Jessie Loehr getting on base and eventually scoring.

However, one run was not going to be enough for the Trojans.

The Purple Hornets scored five in the second, nine in the third, and walked it off with another four in the fourth. In the second frame, L’Anse went through the lineup. Walks to pitcher Kenzie Bianco and first baseman Lindsay Biekkola led to the Purple Hornets first to runs. Also crossing the plate were outfielder Tori Ahola and second baseman Kwynn Voskuhl. They came home on a home run hit by third baseman Sylvia Allen.

While the Trojans scored one in the third, the Purple Hornets countered with nine. Seven of the runs started with a walk to first. Loehr, who got the start in the circle, struggled to find the plate, and the girls in purple took advantage of it.

It was a 14-2 lead for L’Anse to start the fourth inning. In the top of that frame, the Trojans added one courtesy of a Kayli Carlson base hit. However, it would not be enough to counter the Purple Hornets’ four runs in the bottom of the fourth to walk the game off.

“We had good solid hitting and played strong defense,” said L’Anse coach Brandon Marinich. “It was good softball all around.”

Marinich added that strong pitching was also in both matchups.

Bianco, a sophomore, went the distance in both games in the circle for the Purple Hornets. In the opener against the Vikings, she threw six innings and struck out eight while walking five. In the championship game, she struck out five and walked three.

In the opener against Baraga, the Purple Hornets and the Vikings both scored two runs in the second before L’Anse added 11 more runs, the Vikings could only muster one more tally. This one ended 13-3 after six.

After scoring four in the third and two in the fourth, the Purple Hornets went through the lineup in the top of the sixth. A one-out double by Voskuhl started the rally. Allen followed suit with a double of her own. The inning was capped off with base hits by Lola Cichosz and Tessa Thor. Both girls scored. A put out at third base by catcher Willow Rexford ended this one for the Vikings in the bottom of the sixth.

“We have come a long way this season,” stated Marinich. “They are a good group of girls who are fun to coach.”