Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette Hancock's Sidney Scoley takes the field Thursday in a game against Norway at Hancock Driving Park.
HANCOCK — The very young Norwegian Knights softball team traveled to the Copper Country Thursday afternoon to continue looking for ways to win games. However, they struggled at Hancock Driving Park as the host Hancock Bulldogs turned a Knights lead into a Knights loss in both games of the doubleheader.
The Knights took a 1-0 lead into the top of the first inning of the opening game, but that was the limit as the Bulldogs (9-1 overall) scored 12 of the next 13 points. Won 12-2. The Knights (8-7 overall) took a 2-0 lead in the second game, but the Bulldogs scored the next five points to win 5-2.
Hancock coach Craig Biecola liked watching his team find a way to come back and win both games.
“You have to either maintain a lead and get a shutout, or you have to learn to play from behind (and) not give up.” He said. “We have to realize that we have to play until the last out. The game isn't over until the last out. I think we have to accept that and pull together when we have to.
“If we can get a sweep, that would be great. I don't think we hit the ball as much in Game 2 as we did in Game 1, but it's going to happen.”
While the Bulldogs have a veteran-heavy group, the Knights only have two seniors and one junior, so they're learning from game to game, but coach Bob Hulse said they learned a different lesson. It is said that the focus is on
“Hancock is a quality club and they are senior heavy this year.” He said. “A team that focuses on seniors will be fine for one year, right?'' That was last year. We had great success there. was young. I only have two seniors and one junior. The rest are 2nd year students and 1st year students. Five new students have started.
“It's the learning curve and the speed of the game and everything else. Sometimes we're happy, sometimes we're disappointed, but good teams exploit weaknesses. And what that does for us. It shows you what you need to work on.”
In the opening game, designated hitter Megan Pelt hit a two-run home run into the right field seats in the bottom of the fourth inning, and it became a hot topic as she led the Bulldogs' offense.
Norway's Kara Stancina scored in the first inning due to a defensive error, and the game started to move.
The Bulldogs fought back in the second when Pelt and center fielder Ella Storm scored on third baseman Sidney Scoley's single to center field. Shortstop Kaylin Rouleau hit a double to left field, sending Scoley to third base, and first baseman Alice Larson scored both with a single to right field.
The game continued into the bottom of the third inning with a 4-1 advantage for the Bulldogs, when Pelt led off with a walk and Storm scored on a bunt. The Storm took the lead on a defensive error and scored when Scoley singled to center field.
In the top of the fourth inning, Jordyn Morn scored on Peyton Puckett's single, cutting Hancock's lead to 6-2, but the Norwegians fell short.
Catcher Brooke Koskela brought home left fielder Sophie Freeman with a sacrifice hit. Pitcher Sadie Bieckola then hit a double to center field, which was brought home by Pelt, giving the Bulldogs a 9-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, right fielder Mallory Spolarski stole home and was within two runs until Hancock ended the game at mercy. In the same at-bat, Sadie Biecola singled into the left field seats, scoring Larson.
Needing one more run, Hancock scored on Reuleau's single to center field from Sporarski in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Sadie Biecola had 11 strikeouts, three walks and allowed just two hits for the Bulldogs.
The Knights lost the game with Stancina striking out five and allowing 11 hits.
In the nightcap, the Knights extended their lead to 2-0 on an RBI single by Morne and a fielder's choice by Liz Lametti.
Hancock got one run back in the third inning when Koskela sacrificed to bring the Storm home. The Bulldogs then scored on Larson's single off first baseman Diem Kilpela in the fourth inning, tying the game.
In the fifth inning, Koskela led off with a triple, giving Hancock its first lead. Sadie Biekola then hit a good ball into the left field seats. She reached first base on a fielding error, and Koskela scored on the play.
Pelt then hit a fly to center field and reached first base on an error, scoring Sadie Biecola and giving Hancock a 4-2 lead.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, with one out, Storm hit a single to center field to start the game. Koskela made a successful bunt, putting runners on the corners. Sadie Biekola made a sacrifice hit and the Storm scored the winning run.
Scoley pitched well in place of Hancock in this game, striking out three and allowing five hits in seven innings.
The Knights lost with Morn striking out one and allowing eight hits.
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The Bulldogs were back in action Friday at Iron Mountain. They return home Tuesday to take on Calumet starting at 4 p.m.
