Houghton pitcher Stella Soumis prepares to pitch during the first game of a doubleheader against Iron Mountain on Monday at the Houghton High School softball field. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)
HOUGHTON — On an afternoon when it's finally softball season with mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the low-to-mid 60s, the Houghton Gremlins took advantage of the warm weather and swung their bats on their way to sweeping over the visiting irons. Warmed. Mountaineers, 16-1 and 17-2.
With this win, the Gremlins have won four straight and improved their season record to 11-6.
“It was a great day to play softball.” Gremlins coach Mel Baker said. “It was beautiful with the sunshine and 65 or whatever it was. So just being outside and not having snowmen was a blessing.”
Baker said the Mountaineers' coaching staff joked about the change in weather compared to last season.
“Iron Mountain bass said, 'Last time we were here, there was a 6-foot snowbank around us,'” Baker said.And I was like, 'Oh, thank you.' ”
In the opening game, the Gremlins had 12 hits, 12 RBIs, and 16 runs scored as a team, along with four walks in three innings. In Game 2, he had nine hits, 11 RBIs, 17 points, and five walks in three innings.
Baker liked seeing his team's bats wake up in a big way.
“The heat brought heat to the bat, and it felt like it popped a little bit.” she said. “It was certainly nice to see that.”
In Game 1, the Gremlins took an early lead, scoring 10 points with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. It all started with a double by center fielder Kenzie Collard. Pitcher Stella Soumis hit a single into the left field seats, and Corrado scored. Jaycee Sleeman, who was playing third base, singled to right field, then catcher Lexi Burns doubled to left, scoring Soumis and Sleeman. Right fielder Delaney Salmi then singled, driving Barnes home.
Designated hitter Daniel Williston hit a single over left, scoring Salmi and giving Horton a 5-0 lead. Left fielder Emmy Pietila then singled and shortstop Claire Oranquet reached first on an error, scoring Pietila in the process. After first baseman Romi Mattsson issued a walk, Collard elected to walk. While at bat, Pietila scored on a passed ball. Soumis then doubled to left field, bringing in Oranket and Mattson.
In the second, Barnes singled for a triple and scored on a passed ball as Pietila came to the plate. After Pietila elected to walk, Salmi, who reached base on a fielding error, scored on Oranket's sacrifice fly, making the score 12-0 Horton.
The Mountaineers got one run back in the top of the third inning with Vivian Pertusch's triple, and shortly after that, a fielding error allowed Julianna Tapullo to reach first base and score.
Horton went back to work in the second half of the inning, leading off with a walk by Mattson and scoring on Collard's triple. Soumis then took advantage of a mistake and scored Collado. Barnes singled to center field, driving home Soumis. Williston hit a single to right field, allowing Burns to score.
All of the Gremlin starters scored at least one point in the game.
Soumis earned the win with six strikeouts and only two hits.
“I like base running” Baker said. “I still have a few things to learn, but overall I like the improvement in my running.”
The Mountaineers suffered the loss as Ashlyn Ball struck out three, walked four and allowed 12 hits. She also had one of Iron Mountain's two hits in the game.
Iron Mountain started the nightcap with a single from Taplo. She then scored on a fielding error that allowed Petouche to reach first base.
Horton responded by scoring nine runs of his own in the second half of the inning.
Oranket took advantage of a defensive mistake and started a rally. Mattson followed with a walk. Collard was hit by a pitch, and the bases were loaded. Soumis hit all the runners on third base home with a single to center field. After Threeman singled, Salmi hit on a fielder's choice. However, an error allowed Salmi to take the lead. She continued on to second base before the play ended and Soumis scored. Two batters later, Pietila scored Salmi on a sacrifice hit.
Kona Maruyama reached on an error and Oranketo scored on a line drive to the center field fence. Oranketo continued to circle the bases even though he was placed on first and second base due to a defensive error. With her ball still on its way back to the infield, she continued around third base, and before the ball reached home plate, she scored. At this point, Horton was leading 8-1.
Mattson walked and Corrado advanced to first base, and Corrado reached on an error. Soumis walked to load the bases, and Mattson walked to three-man to score.
In the bottom of the second inning, Jada Guilbeault led off with a single to center field. Two batters later, Pietila's double advanced him to third base. Oranketo then brought both girls home with a single to center field. Mattson followed with a triple, scoring Oranketo. Collard knocked Mattson home with a single to right field. Soumis reached on an error and Corrado scored at Kia Markham's sacrifice. Soumis scored on a passed ball with Salmi at bat, making it 15-1 after two games.
In the top of the third inning, Tapuro reached base with a leadoff double, and the ball was a sacrifice grounder that pushed Tapuro home, but Iron Mountain was just one step away.
In the bottom of the third inning, Oranketo singled and tripled. Mattson then hit a two-run homer on the field to close out the scoring.
Mattson also won the game with six strikeouts and two hits.
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Horton will be on vacation until next Monday, when he will travel to play against the Calumet Copper Kings.
