Tervo Agency pitcher Mel Baker finishes the follow through of one of her pitches during the first inning of a game against REL Inc. Wednesday at Chassell Field.. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

CHASSELL — With just two games left in the regular season, Tervo Agency was the only remaining winless team in Copper Country Women’s Fastpitch softball action. That all changed on Wednesday evening. A four-run first inning, a seven-run fourth, and a three-run sixth gave them an 18-9 win over REL Inc. at Chassell Field.

There had been moments all season where it appeared that Tervo Agency was finally going to break through, but they had trouble keeping that momentum up for seven innings.

Wednesday, they scored in four of the six innings they needed to rack up their runs, getting contributions from every single slot in their lineup.

“You know what, it was bound to happen,” said Tervo Agency player-coach Danielle Thoune. “We were making connections today. We were finding the courage to steal. Our wheels were going and it showed up for us today.”

Pitcher Mel Baker led the way for Tervo Agency. She walked four times, scored all four times, and was difficult to deal with on the mound, where she only had three strikeouts, but after the fourth inning, she was nearly impossible to hit.

REL Inc. first baseman Hannah Asiala is pulled off the base trying to make a catch while Tervo Agency shortstop Amber Schoenicke attempts to arrive safely during a game Wednesday at Chassell Field. (Daver Karnosky/Daily Mining Gazette)

“She’s so good,” said REL player-coach Vera Peterson. “She’s a really good pitcher, but it’s fun to play against somebody who’s got so much control.”

For REL, trying to figure out Baker’s change-up proved very difficult. If they did get bats on the ball, oftentimes, their hits seemingly flew right to a Tervo Agency defender, especially shortstop Amber Schoenicke.

“We had some hits, but they just went right to them,” said Vera. “They have a pretty solid left fielder there, and the short stop, she’s got such long arms, (and is) so tall. She’s really good.”

To make matters worse, their pitching struggles from Monday continued Wednesday as Emily Tervo surrendered four walks, which contributed to the four runs that Tervo Agency as Baker led off with a walk and later scored, and center fielder Heather Huffmaster scored on a walk by third baseman Kyllee Puuri. Catcher Aubrey Zackal also walked and later scored on a walk to second baseman Tatum Sporalski, who walked five times in the game.

“I think it shows the confidence that we have in each other,” said Thoune when asked about the multiple big innings in the game. “We trust each other. We might not always be able to read what we’re doing, but we’re trusting each other.”

Things got better for REL in the top of the second as third baseman Delaney Anderson reached on an error. Player-coach Vera Peterson followed with a deep double to center field. A mistake defensively gave Peterson time to reach third, and then turn for home, scoring before Tervo Agency could get the ball home.

Vera took over on the mound in the bottom of the second inning, but Tervo Agency found a way to regain their four-run lead. Left fielder Alana Nolan walked to lead off. Four batters later, she scored when Puuri walked again. Huffmaster, who earlier reached on a fielder’s choice, scored on a passed ball.

REL evened things with a huge third inning as left fielder D’Andra Kero tripled to deep center field with one out. After Anderson walked, Vera singled to left field to bring Kero home. Center fielder Morgan Erkkila reached on a defensive error, which brought Anderson home. Catcher Megan Peterson singled to right field, scoring both Vera and Erkkila.

Baker walked and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Huffmaster as Tervo Agency regained the lead at 7-6 briefly.

REL recovered in the top of the fourth and took their only lead of the night before the inning ended. Second baseman Maddie Johnson reached first on a defensive error to start the rally. She advanced to second before the play ended. First baseman Hannah Asiala drew a walk. Kero ripped another long shot to the left field fence, and she rounded third, clearing the bases on a defensive error.

“That’s huge,” said Vera. “I mean, that’s our goal the whole time is to keep our energy up.

“I feel like our bats are coming around, so I’m optimistic. I know we have it in us. I mean, it’s there, so we just have to unlock it somehow. I feel like it’ll come.”

With REL up 9-7, Anderson stepped onto the mound with hopes of holding off Tervo Agency’s bats, which were swinging with confidence. The move did not work out as planned as Tervo batted around for the second time in the contest and scored seven runs in the process.

Puuri reached on a defensive error. Sporalski walked for the third time. Right fielder Romi Mattson doubled to center field, scoring Puuri. Sporalski got a late jump in her attempt to get to third, and she was tagged out on the play.

Baker then followed with a walk. Nolan singled to left field to load the bases. Mattson scored on a passed ball to even the game at 9-9. Schoenicke tripled to the left field fence, which scored Baker and Nolan. Schoenicke then scored on a single by Huffmaster. Huffmaster then scored on a single by Zackal, who later scored when Mattson drew a bases-loaded walk.

Tervo Agency took their 14-9 lead into the bottom of the sixth when they chained more smart base running together. Puuri led off with a walk. She stole second on a passed ball. Sporalski walked for the fifth time. Mattson loaded the bases when she was hit by a pitch.

Vera, who had been back on the mound since the bottom of the fifth, was injured on a close play at the plate that resulted in Puuri being tagged trying to score. Anderson came in to relieve her and she walked Baker, loading the bases again. Nolan singled to center field, scoring both Sporalski and Mattson. Baker then scored on a sacrifice by Schoenicke. Huffmaster brought Nolan home with a single to push the lead to nine runs, 18-9, going into the top of the seventh.

Baker gave up a single to Johnson to open the inning, but then got Asiala, Kero, and Anderson to all fly out to end the game.

UP NEXT

Tervo Agency returns to action Monday as they face Superior Service at 5:30 p.m. at the Boneyard. REL and Superior National Bank will play in the nightcap at 7:15 p.m. JB’s Sales and Service will face Gold Standard at 7:15 p.m. in Chassell on the same night.