FIELD TWP- With the weather finally cooperating a bit, the North Woods softball team stayed perfect on the season by collecting road wins at Mt. Iron-Buhl and Floodwood this week.
The Grizzlies played as the home team at MIB, and they clinched a dramatic come-from-behind 10-9 victory in the bottom of the seventh inning.
North Woods got things moving in the first inning when Addy Hartway hammered a lead-off triple and later stole home for the Grizzlies’ first run. Skyler Yernatich made it 2-0 by scoring from third on a fielder’s choice rap by Evelyn Brodeen.
But four innings later the Grizzlies were staring at a 6-2 deficit after a pair of three-run innings by the Rangers. Yernatich led off the bottom of the fifth with a triple, and Avery Thiel singled her home. Pitcher Brodeen helped her own cause with another fielder’s choice that brought Thiel home. After drawing a walk in the bottom of the sixth, Hartway scored on a single by Thiel to cut MIB’s lead to 6-5.
The Rangers answered back with three singles and a double in the top of the seventh inning that they turned into three runs, taking an 9-5 advantage into the final frame.
While North Woods fans looked anxious, the attitude in the Grizzlies’ dugout appeared to be a mix of steely resolve and confidence. Addy Burckhardt reinforced that with a leadoff triple, and the North Woods comeback was on.
The Grizzlies followed up with a walk by Lauren Burnett, a single by Karah Scofield, a walk by Aleesia Geshick, a double by Hartway, and a single by Koch. Burckhardt and Geshick scored on steals of home, and Hartway’s double scored Scofield from second.
That made the score 9-8 in favor of MIB with Yernatich coming to the plate with Koch and Hartway on base. Yernatich delivered with a sizzling line-drive double to center field, scoring both base runners for the 10-9 victory.
Brodeen went the distance on the mound, allowing nine runs on 19 hits, striking out nine and walking one.
North Woods hammered 18 hits on the day, with Hartway and Thiel each collecting four.
Floodwood
In a game relocated to Floodwood because of soggy conditions at home on Monday, the Grizzlies packed a ton of offense into just three at-bats in what turned out to be a short run-ruled rout, 26-3. Yernatich went three-for-three at the plate to lead the Grizzlies in hitting.
Three Floodwood pitchers couldn’t find the plate, issuing 21 walks and 13 hits as all but one North Woods player scored multiple times.
Brodeen hit a home run and picked up the win on the mound, allowing just one run on six hits and notching five strikeouts. Koch came in to finish out the game in the top of the fourth.
North Woods was scheduled to put its perfect 3-0 record on the line at home against rival Ely on Thursday, with road trips to MIB and Deer River scheduled for the following Monday and Tuesday.