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NEGAUNEE -- With their batters collecting extra-base hits like they were going out of style, Paradise Bar got itself back in the division race by outscoring the front-running Eagles 23-19 in the Iron Range Women's Softball League on Wednesday.
The Eagles still lead Class B with a 9-2 record, but Paradise Bar pulled within a game and a half at 8-4, while Dee's Nuts stands between them at 8-3.
In this contest held during Week 12, Hailey Hytinen smacked a pair of home runs, while Kelsey Clark hit a grand slam homer as she went 4 for 5. Teammate Katie Mitchell was 5 for 5 with a triple, while Jennifer Hytinen-Polkki and Kate Clark each were 3 for 4, with Clark also getting credit for an "awesome catch in right field."
The Eagles' Jess Geist did her part to keep the leaders in the game, going 4 for 5 with a triple, two doubles and also "awesome defense."
In another "B" game, this one a makeup from an earlier rainout, Barron's Auto Repair picked up its second victory with an 18-6 triumph over second-place Dee's Nuts. Addy Murphy went 4 for 5 with a homer and triple while Sierrah Hallum was also 4 for 5 with a triple and double. Teammate Lyla Quinnell was 4 for 4 with a double as Dee's Sydney Hurley was 3 for 3 and Stacy Sibley 2 for 3.
In their regularly scheduled game, Dee's held off Barron's 14-9 as Caylie Kangas was 4 for 4 and Nichi Sundberg had a triple for the winners. Hallum went 3 for 4 as Emersyn Nelson homered for Barron's.
Mallory Pruett-Shank went 5 for 5 as Palomaki Family Chiropractic squeaked one out over Willey's Tire Shop 23-22.
With Palomaki's Krystal Bergman homering, winning pitcher Terri Todd had a homer and triple as Willey's Miranda Cobb, who homered, and Chastity Hudson both were 4 for 4.
Pineshears won by forfeit over Quality Car Care, while Signs Unlimited had a bye.
In Class A, Phil and Lee's emphatically held onto the top spot with a 23-4 blasting of second-place River Rock.
P and L's Tia Mattila and Ellie Miller each crushed home runs out of the park, Mattila's happening to be a grand slam worth four RBIs.
River Rock's Delaney McLaughlin also cranked a homer out of the park on a night for long, powerful hits.
In another "A" contest, Katie Rankinen and Chelsie Kienitz both went 4 for 4 to lead Congress Pizzas to an 18-6 win over Dave's Collision/Jack's, whose Mel Maddock homered and Brynn Lanala was credited for pitching well.
Gabby Kangas went 6 for 6 as Jasper Ridge Brewery put up a 35-8 victory over Tino's, whose Kara Clisch was 2 for 2 and Josey Castello doubled.
Nicolette Schultz tripled in LaCosse & Associates' 14-6 win over Pasquali's, whose Emily Chrostowski homered.
Here are the league standings, with only a couple of Class A rainouts to be made up and not including Class B byes:
Class A -- Phil and Lee's 10-1, River Rock 9-3, Congress Pizzas 9-3, LaCosse & Associates 7-5, Jasper Ridge Brewery 5-6, Dave's Collision/Jack's 5-7, Tino's 1-10, Pasquali's 0-11
Class B -- Eagles 9-2, Dee's Nuts 8-3, Paradise Bar 8-4, Pineshears 5-5, Quality Car Care 5-5, Willey's Tire Shop 4-6, Palomaki Family Chiropractic 4-7, Signs Unlimited 3-7, Barron's Auto Repair 2-9
Story contents based on an email received from Iron Range Women's Softball League representative Phyllis Johnson. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee's email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.