OCONTO, Wis. — The Copper Country Crush 12U softball team opened its 2026 season with a strong showing at a six-game tournament held June 26-28 in Oconto, Wisconsin, finishing with a 4-2 record and capturing the Silver Bracket Championship.

Sponsored by Great Lakes Sound & Vibration (GLSV) and Dean Kangas State Farm, the Crush used the tournament to gain experience, build confidence, and improve throughout their first competition of the year.

After an up-and-down start through the first three games, the Crush found their rhythm, winning their final three contests by a combined score of 29-2 to claim the title.

Copper Country opened the weekend with a 6-2 loss to Luxemburg-Casco Maroon, despite outhitting its opponent 5-4.

Izi Jahfetson led the Crush with two hits, while Elin Pelli added a hit, an RBI, and two stolen bases.

Ramona Raisanen pitched four innings and Emma Kangas pitched two. They combined to allow just four hits while striking out four.

The Crush bounced back in game two with a 12-7 victory over Fondy Fusion Black.

Emma Kangas led the offense with three hits and two RBIs, while Vivian Mattson drove in three runs.

Raisanen earned the win in the circle, striking out eight over four innings, and the Crush displayed an aggressive offensive approach by drawing 10 walks and stealing nine bases.

After a 5-0 loss to Preble Black, Copper Country closed the tournament with three straight victories.

The winning streak began with an 11-0 victory over the Copper Country Crush 11U team.

Kangas collected three more hits, while Raisanen threw four hitless innings with six strikeouts. The Crush totaled 12 hits and 13 stolen bases, with Raisanen, Izi Jahfetson, Ava Giachino, and Pelli each driving in two runs.

On Sunday, Copper Country defeated the Antigo Fillies 11-1 behind a 16-hit offensive performance.

Raisanen doubled three times and earned the victory, allowing one run while striking out eight without issuing a walk.

Ari Jahfetson, Pelli, Kangas, Giana Guilbault, Mattson, and Izi Jahfetson all contributed multiple hits or key offensive performances as the Crush also played error-free defense.

Copper Country completed the weekend by defeating the Kaukauna Ghosts Gray 7-1 in the Silver Bracket Championship game.

The Crush broke the game open with four runs in the fifth inning on RBI hits from Raisanen, Mattson, Pelli, and Reese Seppanen.

Raisanen earned the championship-game victory, allowing one run over five innings while striking out six.

Seppanen, Pelli, and Mattson each collected two hits, and the Crush once again played flawless defense without committing an error.

The Silver Bracket championship capped a successful opening weekend for a young team that showed steady improvement throughout the tournament and finished the weekend playing its best softball.