ISHPEMING — The Ishpeming High School softball team took to the road, as is often the custom for Marquette County high school teams in any sport during April, and won three of four games this week.

The Hematites stand at 7-1 overall and 1-0 in the West PAC after sweeping a doubleheader at Iron Mountain and settling for a twinbill split at Menominee.

“We’ve been getting good defense and are hitting the ball well,” Ishpeming head coach Ben McGuire said. “We’ve scored in double digits every game, at least until the last one (of Wednesday’s doubleheader).”

The Hematites head south again, this time over the Mackinac Bridge, to play in the Hillman Tournament on Saturday afternoon. Ishpeming plays Rogers City at noon, then depending on the result of that game, either plays in the event’s consolation game at 2 p.m. or championship at 4 p.m. against a team from the other semifinal, Hillman or Brimley.

Here is a rundown from this week’s doubleheaders:

—————————–

Ishpeming 17-12, Iron Mountain 0-0

On Monday at Iron Mountain, the Hematites dominated enough to shorten both games with the mercy rule as a total of just nine innings were played.

In the opener, which lasted four innings and was the game that counted in the West PAC, Ishpeming culminated its scoring with a nine-run fourth.

Winning pitcher Payton Manninen was not only the beneficiary of a 17-hit attack, she had a major hand in producing it, clubbing three triples while knocking in four runs and scoring four.

Teammate Kadie Kaukola added a pair of hits, including a double, and also had four RBIs and four runs scored.

Manninen went the distance on the pitching rubber, allowing only a double to IM’s Ava Marttila, while striking out 10 and walking three.

IM’s Macy Linsenbigler was roughed up for eight runs on four hits and four walks in her two innings.

In the nightcap, considered a nonconference contest, Manninen cracked another three hits, though this time only one was a triple, as she knocked in four and scored three times.

It helped make a winner of Hematites pitcher Marie Salisbury, who pitched all five innings and allowed just one hit, a Juliana Tapio single, while fanning 10 and walking three.

Kaukola had a pair of hits, one an inside-the-park homer, while earning two RBIs and scoring three times. Maki had two hits including a double, two runs and an RBI.

Mountaineer hurler Ashlyn Bal went the distance, giving up 12 runs on 11 hits with four K’s and two BBs.

—————————–

Ishpeming 10-2, Menominee 1-12

On Wednesday at Menominee, a multitude of walks did in Ishpeming in the nightcap.

Before that in the opener, Manninen picked up another pitching victory, going all six innings while allowing one run on five hits and five walks as she struck out nine.

Maki wore the biggest hitting shoes for the Hematites, collecting three hits, two of them triples, while knocking in three and scoring three.

Manninen, Kaukola and Brynn Lanala each had two hits and scored twice, with Lanala also adding in two RBIs.

Phoebe Barrette collected two hits for the Maroons, including a double, while scoring a run in support of pitcher Mady Barker, who went the distance and allowed 10 runs on 14 hits and three walks as she fanned four.

Despite the lopsided 12-2 score in Game 2, each team had three hits and committed one error.

The Maroons jumped out with six runs in the opening inning as losing hurler Miley Phillips was unable to get an out while allowing five runs on one hit and five walks. Salisbury came on in relief.

Ishpeming’s top hitter was Emily DeMarois with a two-run double in the second inning.

Winning hurler Kam Olson pitched all five innings, scattering three hits and two walks while K’ing eight.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.