The sophomore threw back-to-back, complete-game whitewashes as the Miners defeated Escanaba 2-0 in the semifinals and Kingsford 3-0 in the championship game to advance to regional play this weekend.

“That was one of the best pitching performances I’ve witnessed in all my years of coaching,” NHS head coach Randy Carlson said, “considering the circumstances and the way the conditions were, too.”

He noted that after having played in plenty of weather with temperatures in the 40s during the regular season, Kingsford was baking at near 90 degrees on Saturday.

Negaunee has advanced to play in Sault Ste. Marie on Saturday, when the Miners hope to play two more games to decide the regional tournament champion and a berth in the state quarterfinals.

Sophomore Alyse Robar winds up to pitch to an Escanaba batter during an MHSAA Division 2 district tournament high school softball game played in Kingsford on Saturday. Miners’ shortstop Liv Richards is in the background. (Photo courtesy Miya Frederickson)

In their first year after having moved up from Division 3, the Miners face West Branch Ogemaw Heights at 1 p.m. Saturday, the second of two semifinals following Gaylord and Shepherd squaring off at 11 a.m.

The regional title tilt is scheduled right after at 3:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to a Division 2 quarterfinal set for Ferris State University in Big Rapids at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9. After that are the semifinal and final rounds at Michigan State University in East Lansing, culminating in state championship games on June 13.

Twice the Miners have played in quarterfinal games in Division 3 in the past, though they haven’t advanced beyond that point.

Here are details from the district tourney:

Negaunee 2, Escanaba 0

The Negaunee High School varsity softball team, including head coach Randy Carlson at right, pose with their MHSAA Division 2 district championship trophy after shutting out Escanaba and Kingsford at the Flivvers’ field on Saturday. This is the first year the Miners have played in this division after playing for numerous years in Division 3. (Photo courtesy of Miya Frederickson)

Facing a tried-and-tested Division 2 state tournament team, the Miners scratched out single runs in two innings, the first when Delaney Richards was hit by a pitch, followed by Olivia Richards hitting an RBI double in the opening inning.

Their other run came in the fifth or sixth, according to Carlson, when Negaunee loaded the bases but only scored once, that coming on a wild pitch.

But that was more than enough for Robar, who struck out 10 batters in seven innings, allowing no runs on three hits and one walk.

Emma Parlato started and went two innings for Escanaba, allowing a run on two hits with a walk and strikeout. Landry Bray went the next four innings, allowing just an unearned run and two walks as she fanned 11.

Richards, Delaney Gladwell and Rheana Nelson had Negaunee’s hits, while Gladwell also stole two bases as the Miners’ defense didn’t commit an error.

Bray, Breleigh Reinhart and Harlee Coolman had the Eskymos’ hits while also not committing an error.

Negaunee 3, Kingsford 0

In the district championship tilt, Robar struck out another 11 batters, giving her 21 for the day — or exactly half the outs in the two games’ 42 outs spread over 14 innings.

This shutout came on just one hit and one walk, too.

“This was the first time she’s thrown more than seven innings in one day this season,” Carlson said. “She’s done it before in her travel league, just not in a high school game.

“But after the first game, she said she felt fine.”

The key inning was probably the fourth, when the Escanaba offense drew a walk and a bunt wasn’t played perfectly, leading to runners on second and third with none out.

But Robar solved that problem by mowing down the next three batters on strikeouts.

Negaunee again scored right away, getting another first-inning run, this time on a Cassie Feys groundout for an RBI.

The other runs didn’t come until the sixth when Richards and Megan Marker each had RBI singles for a bit more comfortable bulge.

Mya Brunswick was the Flivvers’ hard-luck losing pitcher as she also went seven innings, allowing three runs on nine hits and a walk as she K’d five.

Richards, who had a double, Marker and Feys each had two hits and an RBI, while Gladwell and Richards each had two steals.

The Miners’ defense was again error-free.

Karly Trevillian had Kingsford’s only hit as its defense also didn’t commit an error.

Story contents based on an email received from Negaunee softball representative Steph Robar and information from Miners head coach Randy Carlson. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.