By Journal Sports Staff

HOUGHTON — The 18-wheeler truck known as the Negaunee High School softball team rolled through Houghton on its way to an MHSAA Division 3 district championship on Saturday.

Calumet and Westwood gave the Miners a couple of their best challenges of the season, one that saw Negaunee remain undefeated headed to the D-3 regionals to be played in Boyne City this Saturday.

The Miners opened with a 6-2 victory over Calumet in the semifinals, then defeated Westwood 6-1 in the finals.

“I’m really happy with how we played,” NHS head coach Randy Carlson said. “I think we felt some extra pressure as the favorites going in.

“We hit extremely well, but our opponents also played some really good defense.

“Houghton has a bigger field than we’re used to. I figured that four or five balls we hit Saturday would’ve been home runs at LaCombe Field (in Negaunee).”

In the finals, the Patriots fell behind early and just couldn’t catch up. Negaunee was up 4-0 going into the bottom of the third inning before Natalie Prophet got Westwood on the board with an RBI triple.

However, the Miners didn’t let up as they plated single runs in the fifth and seventh to nail down the title win.

Josie Thomson picked up the victory for Negaunee as she surrendered six hits and struck out 12 Patriots, while the Patriots’ Allie Radcliffe was tagged with the loss. She gave up nine hits and one walk with four strikeouts.

Prophet actually finished the game with two triples among her three hits. The Miners’ Katelyn Lammi went 3 for 4 with three runs scored, while Megan Carlson, who doubled, and Thomson each had two hits. In addition, Lilly Nelson only had a lone single, but knocked in four runs as she also had a sacrifice fly and sacrifice squeeze bunt.

In the semis, Westwood got past the host Gremlins 10-4. Things again started slowly for the Patriots in this game as Houghton grabbed a 4-0 lead through four innings before Westwood caught fire. WHS plated five runs in the fifth and another five in the seventh to account for all its scoring.

Radcliffe, Jillian Koski and Ellie Miller each hit doubles and drove in two runs for Westwood. Radcliffe also got the win in the circle, giving up six hits with two walks and racking up nine strikeouts. Grace Brunet took the loss for Houghton as she gave up 10 hits and three walks with two strikeouts.

In Negaunee’s win over Calumet, Thomson started and went four innings, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks as she fanned six. Larissa Anderson pitched the final three innings.

The Miners’ offense was led by Ally Ennett with three hits, including an inside-the-park homer, and three RBIs. Lammi added two hits and two RBIs while Calumet was paced by Emma Perala with a single and run scored.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee and Journal Sports Writer Ryan Stieg. Email them at sports@miningjournal.net.