RAPID RIVER — A year off from competition due to COVID-19 didn’t seem to hinder the Rudyard Bulldogs here Saturday as they earned their third straight Division 3 regional softball title with a 6-1 victory over the Ishpeming Hematites.

The Bulldogs (27-5), also crowned regional champions in 2018-19, host Hillman in a state quarterfinal game today. Ishpeming finished 9-19.

Rudyard opened with a 15-4 triumph over Norway in five innings.

Junior Morgan Bickel pitched both games, tossing a three-hitter against the Hematites and giving up seven hits, including five in the first three frames, to Norway.

“Just knowing our defense can back me up makes everything a little easier,” she said. “I just try to throw the ball down the middle, knowing the other girls can make plays. Our infield and outfield did real well today. We had perfect weather for the most part. At first, we were worried it would be cold. It feels amazing to be able to play the quarterfinal game at home. It seems like all the hard work we did during COVID is paying off.”

Bickel had given up just one hit before the seventh inning of the title contest when Ishpeming freshman Payton Manninen doubled to centerfield and scored on Maddy McNab’s double to center.

“Morgan wanted the ball, and we gave it to her,” said Rudyard coach Steve Davis. “She threw well, and our catcher (Megan Postma) did a phenomenal job. We made some good plays. We’ve now made the quarterfinals in three sports this year (also volleyball and basketball). That’s a big deal for us. It will be exciting for the girls to play the quarterfinal at home.”

The Bulldogs scored their first two runs on Brooklyn Besteman’s single to center in the first.

Rudyard got its third run on Paige Postma’s triple to center and made it 4-0 on Bickel’s single to center in the second.

Megan Postma scored Rudyard’s fifth run on Sara Beelen’s single to right-center in the third.

Bickel then raised the count to 6-0 on Megan Postma’s double to right in the fourth.

The Bulldogs finished with eight hits, including two by Megan Postma.

Hytinen, who took the win in a 6-5 semifinal triumph over Hancock, lasted just 1 1/3 innings against Rudyard. She gave up four runs on five hits and walked two in the title contest.

Manninen relieved in the second and struck out five, walked one and allowed two runs on three hits.

“Our girls played hard,” said Ishpeming coach Ben McGuire. “They have eight seniors. That’s a good team. In the first couple innings, they really hit the ball. We’ve improved so much from the beginning of the year. Both pitchers threw well.

“The kids played real well against Hancock. That team had beaten us twice this year. That was a real good win for us.”

Bickel fanned seven and walked none in the opener for Rudyard, which trailed 4-3 in the middle of the third.

Rudyard then scored twice in its half of the third, added seven runs in the fourth and ended the game on Sara Beelen’s walk-off two-run homer to center in the fifth.

The Bulldogs collected 15 hits, including two apiece by Tori Tremblay, Karlee Mayer, Beelen, Bickel and Paige Postma.

Hannah Burkland and Donna VanHolla had two hits each for Norway, which committed six of the game’s eight errors.

“Those were very uncharacteristic for us,” said Norway coach Bob Bal. “Going 23-7 is nothing to complain about. We lose only one senior, although this was tough for Mackenzie (Clifford). We won a district, and she was happy to be part of that. I just wish we could also have won a regional for her.”

Hytinen pitched 6 2/3 innings against Hancock before Manninen struck out the final hitter in relief.

Hancock (12-13) trailed 6-1 before getting a run back in the sixth and coming within the final one-run margin on Sophie Heinonen’s two-run shot to left in the seventh.

Hytinen gave the Hematites their five-run cushion with a leadoff homer to left-center in the sixth.

Eight Ishpeming players had one hit apiece. Salani had two of Hancock’s seven hits.

Manninen worked 6 2/3 innings for the win. She struck out seven and walked none.

Kilpela went the distance and absorbed the loss. She fanned nine and walked five.

“At first, we weren’t sure we’d have enough for a team, but the girls kept getting better and got to the regional tournament,” said Hancock coach Randy Heinonen. “We were playing pretty well toward the end of the season.”