CRYSTAL FALLS — Despite losing multiple seniors in the offseason, the Norway varsity softball team improved to 8-0 in the Skyline Central Conference on Wednesday as it swept Forest Park in Crystal Falls.

The Knights took the first game, 5-0, and then rolled to a 12-3 win in the last game. They are now 14-9 on the season and 10-0 in conference action.

“To come back with two wins, I was pretty happy,” Norway head coach Bob “Kuba” Bal said. “It wasn’t easy. But, at the end of the day, a win is a win. They’re not all pretty, but we’ll take it.”

With a young squad, Bal didn’t anticipate the Knights starting perfect in the SCC.

“When you’re starting seven underclassmen, you just think about getting better and the chips are falling in the right places,” Bal said. “And sometimes that works out. I’m kind of surprised, but we’re still not done.”

Game One

It was a pitching battle in the first game as neither team scored a run in the first four innings.

In the top of the fifth, Norway made its move. Kaylee Baldwin drove in the Knights’ first run with a groundout. They held a 1-0 lead.

“They’re a quality team,” Bal said. “They split with Bark River. They split with Superior Central. They’re a quality team. … (Forest Park) has very athletic girls and they’re getting better.

“Come district time, they’re going to be a tough out.”

They continued to pour it on in the sixth, scoring three runs. Kara Stanchina started the inning with a triple. She would score on a Forest Park error. Olivia Kraemer would score on the same error. A Tessa Castelaz double closed Norway’s scoring in the inning. Norway led 4-0.

Jordyn Moln drove in the Knights’ last run of the game with a single in the seventh.

Moln picked up the win on the mound for Norway. She struck out three in seven innings of work.

Kaidince Woollard started the game for the Trojans. She struck out 11.

Stanchina was 3 for 4 at the plate. She also recorded one stolen base. Cooper, Castelaz and Baldwin each recorded one RBI. Cooper and Emma Dube both drew one walk.

Game Two

The Knights didn’t waste any time getting their offense going in the second game. They scored three runs in the first inning and led 3-0.

Norway wouldn’t score again until the sixth when Moln drove in two runs on a double. By the end of the frame, the lead was up to 8-0.

With two outs, Forest Park responded in the bottom of the sixth. Dalaney Wagner got them on the board with a two-run double to left field. The Trojans trailed 8-2 after the inning.

The Knights tacked on four more runs in the seventh to pick up the win.

Wagner started the game on the bump for Forest Park. She struck out two in seven innings.

Stanchina picked up the win for Norway. She tallied 11 strikeouts.

Moln led the Knights with four RBIs. She was 2 for 5 at the plate. Dube and Payton Paquette each tallied two RBIs. Kraemer and Cooper each had one RBI.

Wagner led the Trojans with two RBIS. Charlie Larson also recorded one.

Norway is in Niagara, Wis. today at 3:30 p.m. for a doubleheader.

COUGARS 12, NORDICS 2

EBEN JUNCTION — It was a rough day of Skyline Central Conference action for the North Dickinson varsity softball team on Wednesday as they faced off with Superior Central in Eben Junction.

The Nordics ended up losing both games of the doubleheader. They lost the first game 12-2 and the second game 10-9.

Game One

North Dickinson started the first game on the right foot. They opened with a walk and a single from Khloe Roberts. Roberts would score on a wild pitch and the Nordics took a 1-0 lead.

However, the Cougars came to play as well and they tacked on three runs in the bottom of the first inning.

The Nordics took advantage of a Cougars’ error in the top of the third and added another run to their total. Superior Central held a 3-2 lead.

The Cougars scored seven runs in the bottom of the frame as the lead grew to eight runs. They scored two more runs in the fifth to lock up the 12-2 win.

Janessa Chartier started the game for the Nordics.

She struck out one batter in three innings of work. Ava Oman pitched 1.1 innings in relief and struck out one.

Roberts recorded North Dickinson’s only hit and stolen base in the game. Aly Steinbrecher led the team with two walks. Lauren Jungwirth and Dalaney Steinbrecher had a walk apiece.

Game Two

Once again, the Nordics jumped ahead immediately in the first inning. They brought all nine batters to the plate and scored five runs.

Superior Central went down in order in the bottom of the frame and North Dickinson went back to work at the dish.

A single from Roberts and a Cougars’ error brought Jungwirth to the plate. She doubled to right field and scored two runs. Mary Grace Holmes added another run with a single and the Nordics held an 8-0 advantage.

Superior Central got a run back in its half of the second inning, but the Cougars still trailed 8-1.

North Dickinson was retired in order in the third and Superior Central cut the lead to 8-4 with a three-run inning.

Ella Rossi plated another run for the Nordics in the fifth and the lead grew to 9-4. However, the Cougars would score six runs in the final two innings to pick up the 10-9 win.

Oman pitched a complete game for North Dickinson.

She struck out three batters in six innings.

Holmes finished the game a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate. She also recorded two stolen bases, an RBI and a walk. Jungwirth led the way with three RBIs while Rossi was close behind with two RBIs. Dalaney Steinbrecher stole two bases.

The Nordics are back in action at 3 p.m. on Monday as they welcome Norway to Hardwood Hall.

ESKYMOS 13, FLIVVERS 0

ESCANABA — It was a long day for the Kingsford varsity softball team on Wednesday as it made the trip to Escanaba without its senior players.

As a result, the Flivvers had to call two players up from the junior varsity squad and they ended up losing both games to Escanaba.

Game One

The Eskymos held Kingsford scoreless in the top of the first and they poured on four runs in their half of the inning.

Escanaba tacked on three in the second, one in the third and five in the fourth to pick up the 13-0 win.

Reagan Cram started the game on the bump for the Flivvers. She struck out three in four innings.

Offensively, Carly Smith and Kailey Matuszewski each drew one walk for Kingsford. Kailey Sundquist was hit by a pitch.

The Flivvers committed two errors in the game.

Game Two

Kingsford managed two hits in the second contest, however, the end result was similar to the first with the Eskymos picking up a 15-0 win.

Escanaba scored two runs in the first, three in the second and five runs in both the third and fourth innings to lock up the victory.

Jenna Viau got the ball for the Flivvers. She struck out one in 3.2 innings of work.

Anna Bortolini and Eden Janousek each recorded a hit for Kingsford. Smith and Paityn Pietrantonio each drew a walk. Smith stole one base.

The Flivvers are in Menominee today for a doubleheader against the Maroons starting at 3:30 p.m.