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GWINN — Superior Central had the superior batters in a high school girls softball doubleheader sweep of Gwinn at the Forsyth Township Ball Park on Friday afternoon and evening.

The Cougars posted 25-2 and 25-7 victories.

In Game 1, SC came out of the gate flying, bringing home 13 runs in the first inning. Hope Brunngraeber and Kiera McDonald led Superior Central, with McDonald even hitting an inside-the-park home run, establishing a lead too big for the Modeltowners to overcome.

The Gwinn High School softball team huddles up pregame in center field with stocking caps on during the cold conditions of a doubleheader played against Superior Central at the Forsyth Township Ball Park in Gwinn on Friday. (Journal photo by Caden Sierra)

Alexa Jakubowski and Adrian Roberts would score for Gwinn in this game.

The Eagles didn’t take off their hitting shoes for the nightcap either, establishing a 3-0 lead in the opening inning.

But this time around, the Modeltowners responded with six runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-3 lead. Getting four hits from their first six batters, Makayla Olson, Madison Arnoldussen, Addyson Sayen, Dakota Shepard, Hannah Eagle and Aubrey Paquin would each drive in runs for Gwinn in the first.

But the Cougars eventually took over both offensively and defensively. On offense, it was a 16-run third inning, while on defense, it was giving up just one more run after Gwinn’s early rally.

Each game ended early with the 15-run rule coming into play.

Despite the setbacks, Modeltowners coach Monika Sylvester was excited to see what is next for her team.

“We’re excited to see we’ve got several new young pitchers,” she said. “I’m excited to see what the future holds for some of our young new pitchers, and excited to see … what the team can do as they come together throughout the year.”

A big part of SC offense came from its larceny on the basepaths, as they stole 37 bases to just five for Gwinn, which also had just nine hits over the pair of games.

Sylvester also commented on the challenge of playing in harsh weather conditions, which included both wind and a little frozen precipitation.

“We know that it was coming, but knowing that is coming and playing your first game in it, a little snowfall here, there definitely is something to overcome emotionally,” the Modeltowners coach said. “The girls, at least I’ve seen it now, and maybe we can we can battle a little better next time, or even better yet, we don’t have (it the) next time this year.”

Gwinn gets back on the field in what promises to be warmer conditions for a 4 p.m. doubleheader today in Hancock. SC returns to action at 4 p.m. Tuesday for a twinbill in Rapid River.

Caden Sierra can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 551. His email address is csierra@nmu.edu.