RAPID RIVER — The Rapid River softball team overpowered the Sault Ste. Marie Blue Devils in a doubleheader here Friday, hoping to get the kinks out before the postseason. The Rockets won both games 11-1.

“Getting ready for districts has just been a continuous work in progress all season,” Rockets’ coach George Kaynuh said. “It’s been a work in progress since we’ve got some new personnel in the lineup and some new positions people are trying this year.”

Leading 2-0, the Rockets blew the nightcap open in the bottom of the third.

With one out, a walk and a single put two on base. Jaden Schwartz advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground single from Myah Pearson. After a single from Ellie Moberg, Madi LaChance singled on a pop fly to left to score another and increase the Rockets’ lead to 5-0. One batter later, Cecilia Pilon scored Moberg and LaChance on a ground to center to increase their lead to 7-0.

The Rockets added three more in the fourth and one in the fifth.

Sault Ste. Marie’s sole run came in the top of the fifth. After an error allowed Kensey Micolo to reach, she scored on a single by Paris Kagarise.

Natalie Belanger earned the win over five innings. She allowed two hits, one unearned run and struck out six. Riley Edwardsen led the offense with three RBIs, two runs scored and a home run. Pilon went 2 for 3 with two RBIs, and Pearson and Madi LaChance both collected one RBI and one hit.

Amber Curtis took the loss for the Blue Devils over five innings, allowing 12 hits, four walks and 11 runs (nine earned). Kagarise earned their sole RBI and one hit, and Curtis also notched a hit.

In the opener, the score was tied at one entering into the fifth.

After the Sault went three-and-out, Rapid River put two on base. Schwartz then stole third and scored to give the Rockets a 2-1 lead, and they added seven more to lead 10-1 entering the sixth. They then added one more in the bottom of the sixth to end the game.

“For the first time this season, we put together two complete games against a good team,” Kaynuh said. “The pitching was spot on, our hitting was great and our mistakes were at a minimum. That’s the first time all year, I think, that we’ve done that in two consecutive games. It’s nice, especially at this time of year, if we can feed off of it. Hopefully, it’ll be a huge boost going into districts Friday.”

The Blue Devils’ sole run came in the second inning. Kallen Micolo doubled and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. She was scored on a ground single by Kensey Micolo.

“We’re a young team, so I’m just trying to get them more and more experience,” Blue Devils’ coach Lisa McRorie said. “We played well in the first game, we played tight. We’ve had some injuries with pitching, so it was just a matter of getting through this game knowing my number one wouldn’t be able to finish. The second pitcher is a freshman, so our goal was just to have some quality innings and get all these freshman players as much experience as possible.”

Belanger earned the win over six innings, allowing six hits, one walk and one run while striking out 12. Kristen Goodacre led the offense with three RBIs and one hit, and Emily Goodacre went 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Edwardsen, Belanger, Schwartz and Pilon all finished with one RBI and Pilon also finished with three hits.

Elizabeth D’Autremont took the loss for the Blue Devils with eight hits, four walks and nine runs (one earned) allowed. She struck out two. Curtis pitched an inning in relief, allowing five hits and two runs. Kensey Micolo grabbed the sole RBI and one hit, while Merryn McLean and Kallen Micolo notched two hits.

Rapid River hosts Calumet for a doubleheader Tuesday, while Sault Ste. Marie is idle until districts in Escanaba June 1.