ISHPEMING — After winning its first MHSAA district championship in school history, the Lake Linden-Hubbell softball team aimed to bring its first regional trophy back to Houghton County. In convincing fashion, the Lakes defeated Superior Central 15-4,in six innings in the opening semifinal Saturday at the Ishpeming Playgrounds. 

Lakes freshman Payton Goldsworthy toed the mound for the duration of the game recording 11 strikeouts and allowing only two hits. Goldsworthy helped her own cause with a grand slam home run in the Lakes nine run fifth inning. 

The round-tripper was Goldsworthy’s 14th of the season. 

“Payton pitched well, the whole team played well. We did what we needed to do to put ourselves into the championship game later today,” said Lakes coach Curtis Kinnunen. 

Grand Valley State University track and field recruit Emily Jokela of Lake Linden-Hubbell showed her blazing speed in the top of the third inning. 

With a line drive down the right field line, Jokela was already round second base by the time Cougars right fielder Kianna Perron fielded the ball. Jokela ended up with an inside-the-park home run on the play, extending the Lakes lead to 4-0. 

The bottom of the third inning was an eventful for Superior Central, as junior first baseman Addie Frusti cranked a three-run home run to right-center field to tie the game at 4-4 after the Cougars had already plated a run on two Lake Linden errors. 

After a quiet fourth inning for both teams, the Lakes (26-4) batted around in the aforementioned top of the fifth inning, a total of 11 players batted in the inning recording six hits, which essentially put the game out of reach. 

In addition to Goldsworthy’s grand slam in the Lakes’ half of the fifth inning, with the bases loaded, junior Ceo Milkey ended up on third after cracking a three-RBI double to right field. Milkey ended up on third on a Cougars throwing error.

Two pitches later, Jokela smacked an RBI triple scoring Milkey which increased the Lake lead to, 13-4.  

Sophomore Ashlyn Steves’ two RBI single in the top of the sixth inning for the Lakes increased the teams lead to 15-4. 

Superior Central senior Sammy Johnson pitched the duration of the contest for the Cougars, fanning six batters. 

“Sammy battled with her command for most of the game, which is uncharacteristic of her, but she kept fighting,” said Cougars coach Richard Swajanen. “I’m proud of her and I am proud of our whole team, we had a great season.