Hancock’s Ellie Heinonen bats against Lake Linden-Hubbell in a MHSAA Division 4 District 97 opener Tuesday, May 31, 2022, at Driving Park in Hancock, Mich. (Eddie O’Neill/The Daily Mining Gazette)

HANCOCK — The Hancock Bulldogs opened the MHSAA Division 4 District 97 opener with a 7-2 win over the Lake Linden-Hubbell Lakes at the Driving Park on Tuesday.

With the win, the Bulldogs advance to a district semifinal game against L’Anse on Friday. Hancock is hosting the District 97 tournament all day Friday at the Driving Park.

Bessemer walloped Ironwood 15-5 in the other district opener. Bessemer plays Baraga in the other semifinal.

Bulldogs’ head coach Randy Heinonen said small ball won this first post-season game against the Lakes.

“We had a hit here and a bunt there, but it was heads-up baserunning and taking advantage of misplays that won this one for us. We were patient, and it paid off,” he explained.

The Bulldogs (17-9) were the visitors and tallied scores in each of the first four innings. In the top of the first, they took advantage of a third-strike pass ball for leadoff hitter Kaisa Salani. She eventually came around to score on an error by the Lakes (13-6).

In the second, a walk to Tarynn Brey led to her eventually crossing home thanks to a stolen base and a couple of errant throws. Bulldogs’ catcher Brooke Koskela scored as well. It was a 3-0 Bulldog tilt after two frames. They made it a 5-0 game after four innings.

In many ways, this was a pitching duel. The Lakes put their left-handed ace Emily Jokela in the circle, and the Bulldogs went with their lefty Sadie Biekkola. Both pitchers went the distance. Biekkola pitched an impressive one-hit seven innings striking out 10 and walking just two.

“Sadie pitched a gem, and we played well in the field,” said her coach. “We made the plays we were supposed to make.”

Jokela struck out 15 but did not have the defense to back her up as the Lakes allowed seven runs on five hits.

“She did a great job. We just couldn’t get the bats going early on, and we gave up one too many errors,” said LL-H head coach Curtis Kinnunen. “You cannot do that against these good teams.”

The Lakes avoided the shutout with a two-run fifth inning. A walk to Brooke Banfield and two fielding errors by the Bulldogs scored her and Sydney Sukonen. But that was as good as it got for the Lakes.

Despite the loss, Kinnunen said it was a good year for softball at Lake Linden-Hubbell

“We went 8-0 in our conference, and that is something to be very proud of,” he said. “These are a good bunch of girls who worked hard all year.”

HCHS 121 101 1 – 7

LL-H 000 020 0 – 2