Ishpeming head coach Ben McGuire hopes to change that on Saturday when his charges head to Norway to a four-team tourney.

Coming off a district championship last weekend, the Hematites’ morale is “good, we have a chance to win our first regional, so that is our focus,” McGuire said, adding that his 16-12 team benefits from strong leadership, with six seniors and five players from the state championship basketball team who are accustomed to performing in high-pressure situations.

At the regionals, one team will emerge as champion and advance to Tuesday’s quarterfinals in Pickford.

Ishpeming has won its district and advanced to the regionals the past three years and five of the last six. But the coach added that his team has only won one game there in all those appearances.

Ishpeming second baseman Ava Jo Hares moves to cover second base in the second game of a high school softball doubleheader played against Houghton in Ishpeming on May 28. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

This time around, Bessemer and Bark River-Harris open regional play by squaring off at 11 a.m. EDT, while Ishpeming faces Hancock in the second regional semifinal at 2 p.m. EDT. The championship game is scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT.

“Whoever makes the least mistakes will win,” McGuire said, specifically about the opener against Hancock. “The key to success will lie in minimizing errors and capitalizing on scoring opportunities when they are presented.”

It could prove to be a tight, well contested game as the coach pointed out that these two teams were part of a tie for second place in the West PAC behind league champion Negaunee.

Ishpeming’s journey so far, though, has been nothing short of dominant. The Hematites claimed the district championship with decisive wins — 14-0 over Gwinn and 15-0 over Superior Central, each game lasting five innings.

Ishpeming’s error-free defense has been a cornerstone of its success.

“This is our best defensive team, we don’t have any weak spots,” McGuire said. “If we play well defensively, we will always have a chance.”

Defense will be crucial against a Hancock team known for its pitching and defense.

Senior pitcher Payton Manninen has been the Hematites’ star, allowing just two hits over the 10 innings, striking out 21 batters and walking none. Her stellar performance on the mound was complemented by an explosive offense and flawless defense.

She boasts a .687 batting average, 11 home runs, a 1.361 slugging percentage, 68 RBIs and 56 runs for the spring. Her on-base percentage is now an impressive .727, underscoring her value at the plate. In the circle, she maintains a 1.47 earned-run average.

Not too surprisingly, she was named Player of the Year when West PAC awards were recently announced.

Managing Manninen’s workload has been a season-long strategy to ensure peak performance during crucial games.

“We’ve managed Payton’s workload all season to make sure she is strongest now,” McGuire said. “She is always at her best in big games.

“Offensively, the strategy remains simple yet effective: “Put the ball in play and put pressure on the defense to make plays.”

Another key contributor is Kadie Kaukola, who leads the team with 25 stolen bases, adding a significant threat on the base paths. Additionally, Ava Jo Hares has excelled defensively, with a caught-

stealing percentage of .140, demonstrating her ability behind the plate.

Reflecting on the district tournament success, McGuire expressed immense pride in his team’s all-around performance.

“In districts, we had a great performance in all four phases: offense, defense, pitching and base running,” he said, emphasizing that his team maintain its high level of focus and preparation on Saturday.

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