Jeff Helminiak

Trent Buning of Kenai River Wolfpack tries to escape the grasp of Samuel Warner of the Fairbanks Sun Dawgs on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Kenai Dipnet Fest Rugby 10s Tournament in Kenai. Danny Autrey Jr. of the Woldpack looks on. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Dipnet Fest rugby tourney continues growth

The Alaska Mountain Rugby Grounds is a field of dreams for the game in Anchorage, complete with a manicured pitch, mountain backdrop, ornate clubhouse and… Continue reading

Trent Buning of Kenai River Wolfpack tries to escape the grasp of Samuel Warner of the Fairbanks Sun Dawgs on Saturday, July 22, 2017, at the Kenai Dipnet Fest Rugby 10s Tournament in Kenai. Danny Autrey Jr. of the Woldpack looks on. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Lance Chilton leads the pack in the five-kilometer Salmon Run Series race up Angle Hill on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna. Chilton would hold on to take the victory. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Smolts strengthen Salmon Run Series

Time flies when you’re running around and having fun. The Salmon Run Series, a five-race set held every Wednesday starting the first Wednesday of July… Continue reading

Lance Chilton leads the pack in the five-kilometer Salmon Run Series race up Angle Hill on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at Tsalteshi Trails in Soldotna. Chilton would hold on to take the victory. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Evan Butcher moves the puck at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex last season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Butcher joins other Brown Bears at UW-Stout

Anchorage’s Evan Butcher took his time and came to the same conclusion as three of his teammates with the Kenai River Brown Bears. He was… Continue reading

Evan Butcher moves the puck at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex last season. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Richie Lundahl III chips to the eighth green Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at the Birch Ridge Junior Masters at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Junior Masters showcases Birch Ridge’s advanced juniors program

The Birch Ridge Junior Masters annually serves as one of the four majors for the Alaska Junior Golf Association. It also serves as a showcase… Continue reading

Richie Lundahl III chips to the eighth green Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at the Birch Ridge Junior Masters at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Logan Smith of the Twins delivers to the Wasilla Road Warriors on Sunday, July 16, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.

Twins come back, earn split with Wasilla

In sweeping a doubleheader from South on Saturday, the American Legion Twins showed they are growing up. In getting trounced by Wasilla in a league… Continue reading

Logan Smith of the Twins delivers to the Wasilla Road Warriors on Sunday, July 16, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.

Lasting thoughts after 90th Mount Marathon

A few thoughts on Tuesday’s 90th running of Mount Marathon in Seward: — It was good to see Soldotna’s Allie Ostrander feeling good again, and… Continue reading

Seward’s Erik Johnson finishes off a runner-up finish in the men’s race at Mount Marathon in Seward on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Ostrander captures Mount Marathon at 20 years old

Alaska has always been tough to beat at Seward’s Mount Marathon because its national- and international-caliber athletes want the race even though they don’t need… Continue reading

Seward’s Erik Johnson finishes off a runner-up finish in the men’s race at Mount Marathon in Seward on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Peninsula Oilers catcher Mikey Hoehner prepares to tag out Levi Gilcrease of the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks for the first out in the ninth inning Friday, June 30, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. Gilcrease would have been the tying run in the Oilers’ 4-3 victory. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Friday: Oilers hold off Chinooks

A ho-hum game under leaden skies came alive to deliver a sizable crown an only-in-baseball, pins-and-needles ending Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.… Continue reading

Peninsula Oilers catcher Mikey Hoehner prepares to tag out Levi Gilcrease of the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks for the first out in the ninth inning Friday, June 30, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. Gilcrease would have been the tying run in the Oilers’ 4-3 victory. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Oilers shortstop John Thomas forces out Carter Bins of the Glacier Pilots at second base Sunday, June 25, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Oilers top Pilots for 2nd straight win

Nathan Webb had a two-RBI double and Devin Hayes pitched six solid innings as the Peninsula Oilers defeated the Anchorage Glacier Pilots 2-1 on Sunday… Continue reading

Oilers shortstop John Thomas forces out Carter Bins of the Glacier Pilots at second base Sunday, June 25, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Ryan Smith of the Peninsula Oilers swings at a pitch from the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, Friday, June 24, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Smith finding his swing again for Oilers

In Thursday’s 5-1 victory over the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, Ryan Smith of the Oilers scored an insurance run after reaching base in the seventh inning… Continue reading

Ryan Smith of the Peninsula Oilers swings at a pitch from the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, Friday, June 24, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Devin Hayes delivers a pitch to the Mat-Su Miners on June 13, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. Behind Hayes is the scoreboard, which was in its final Oilers game after almost 40 years. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Seymour Park gets a new scoreboard

It has kept score for Peninsula Oilers teams that have gone on to win national championships, Post 20 Twins teams that have won state championships,… Continue reading

Devin Hayes delivers a pitch to the Mat-Su Miners on June 13, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. Behind Hayes is the scoreboard, which was in its final Oilers game after almost 40 years. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Twins starting pitcher Mose Hayes delivers home against West on Sunday, June 18, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

West sweeps Twins

West continued to show why it is a program on the rise Sunday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai by defeating the Twins 3-1… Continue reading

Twins starting pitcher Mose Hayes delivers home against West on Sunday, June 18, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai’s Cole Crandall soars through the air Saturday, June 17, 2017, at the Alaska State Motocross Championships at Twin City Raceway in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

State Motocross at Twin City Raceway gets visit from a pro

Twin City Raceway is getting a visit from a motocross rider from the top echelons of the sport. Ben LaMay, who has experience in both… Continue reading

Kenai’s Cole Crandall soars through the air Saturday, June 17, 2017, at the Alaska State Motocross Championships at Twin City Raceway in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Sterling’s Sundberg gets hole-in-one at age 12

There’s a time-honored tradition of buying drinks for playing partners after striking a hole-in-one, but apparently being only 12 years old gets you off the… Continue reading

Winning pitcher Jake Andresen of Dimond delivers home against the Twins in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday, June 17, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Twins split with Dimond

Like any good nephew, Dimond pitcher Jake Andresen took good care of his uncle’s place. Andresen, the nephew of John Kennedy, the groundskeeper at Coral… Continue reading

Winning pitcher Jake Andresen of Dimond delivers home against the Twins in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday, June 17, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Women’s winner Amber Bethe cruises through the Wolverine Loop at the Snippit Loppet Duathlon on Sunday, June 11, 2017, at Tsalteshi Trails. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)

Snippit Loppet raises funds for Peninsula Spay/Neuter Fund

The Snippit Loppet Duathlon was held Sunday at Tsalteshi Trails on the date traditionally reserved for the Tri-The-Kenai Triathlon, which did not happen this year… Continue reading

Women’s winner Amber Bethe cruises through the Wolverine Loop at the Snippit Loppet Duathlon on Sunday, June 11, 2017, at Tsalteshi Trails. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna sophomore Bradley Walters, Kenai Central junior Trevor Debnam and Soldotna sophomore Jack Harris pull tires up a hill on South Coho Loop under the watch of Andy Liebner on Monday, June 5, 2017.

Area skiers absorb week’s worth of knowledge from Liebner

Not every cross-country ski race will be contested in perfect conditions, and for those days, there are tires. That’s why motorists on South Coho Loop… Continue reading

Soldotna sophomore Bradley Walters, Kenai Central junior Trevor Debnam and Soldotna sophomore Jack Harris pull tires up a hill on South Coho Loop under the watch of Andy Liebner on Monday, June 5, 2017.

Bears select 10 in NAHL Draft

When he was hired in mid-May, Kenai River Brown Bears head coach Josh Petrich said the near-death experience of the North American Hockey League franchise… Continue reading

Soldotna pitcher Danielle Hills delivers to Homer on Monday, May 15, 2017, at the Soldotna Little League fields. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna, Homer softball ready for state tournament

Homer coach Bill Bell has been involved with Mariners softball since 2004 and made the state tournament in every year except for one in that… Continue reading

Soldotna pitcher Danielle Hills delivers to Homer on Monday, May 15, 2017, at the Soldotna Little League fields. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Lukas Renner, 8, gets off his bike to walk through the soft sand before the final hill to the finish Monday, May 29, 2017, at the Mouth to Mouth Wild Run and Ride. Many riders were calling that soft sand and hill the toughest part of the course. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Life’s a beach: Wild Run and Ride thrives in new date

Sunny weather, a new date on the calendar, the possibility of a free fat bike and a new three-mile running race spurred the Mouth to… Continue reading

Lukas Renner, 8, gets off his bike to walk through the soft sand before the final hill to the finish Monday, May 29, 2017, at the Mouth to Mouth Wild Run and Ride. Many riders were calling that soft sand and hill the toughest part of the course. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)