Joey Klecka

Nikiski senior Ian Johnson (8) sheds Monroe Catholic defensive back Parker Glaves in the third quarter of Saturday’s Division III game at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Missed chances cost Nikiski in loss to Monroe

After a miscommunication on a two-point scoring attempt led to a failed chance to take the lead midway through the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game… Continue reading

Nikiski senior Ian Johnson (8) sheds Monroe Catholic defensive back Parker Glaves in the third quarter of Saturday’s Division III game at Nikiski High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna tight end Galen Brantley III hauls in a touchdown pass Friday night against Dimond at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Stars pound the rock against Dimond for 51st straight win

A week after sweating out a Division I clash with West that was separated by a touchdown into the fourth quarter, the Soldotna Stars made… Continue reading

Soldotna tight end Galen Brantley III hauls in a touchdown pass Friday night against Dimond at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna quarterback Brandon Crowder unleashes a throw against the West Eagles defense Friday at West Anchorage High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Week 2 football preview: Teams learn from 1st week

While the Soldotna football team continued to wow the rest of the state with their record-extending 50th straight win last Friday night in the rain,… Continue reading

Soldotna quarterback Brandon Crowder unleashes a throw against the West Eagles defense Friday at West Anchorage High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna quarterback Brandon Crowder unleashes a throw against the West Eagles defense Friday at West Anchorage High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Stars strike gold: SoHi opens season with 50th straight football win

Whether or not the rest of Alaska wants to accept it, the Soldotna football program keeps pounding away at the rock. Led by a cast… Continue reading

Soldotna quarterback Brandon Crowder unleashes a throw against the West Eagles defense Friday at West Anchorage High School. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
A group of Soldotna players discuss play-calling in an Aug. 5 scrimmage against Chugiak at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

2017 Football Season Preview: Who can knock off the Stars?

These days, it seems like everyone wants to take a shot at knocking off the mighty Soldotna Stars football team from their throne. As the… Continue reading

A group of Soldotna players discuss play-calling in an Aug. 5 scrimmage against Chugiak at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Matthew Martinelli, with the Soldotna Stars motto “Pound the Rock” emblazoned on his back, helps film a varsity scrimmage between Soldotna and Chugiak High School Saturday at Justin Maile Field. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Martinelli inspires juggernaut football team from sidelines

The current five-year run of dominance the Soldotna High football team has strung together is no accident. It has taken hours of preparation, film study,… Continue reading

Matthew Martinelli, with the Soldotna Stars motto “Pound the Rock” emblazoned on his back, helps film a varsity scrimmage between Soldotna and Chugiak High School Saturday at Justin Maile Field. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Members of the Chugiak and Soldotna football teams scrimmage Saturday at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

SoHi football scrimmages Chugiak

Dress rehearsal On one of the hottest days of the summer, the Soldotna and Chugiak High School football programs clashed Saturday in a preseason scrimmage… Continue reading

Members of the Chugiak and Soldotna football teams scrimmage Saturday at Justin Maile Field in Soldotna. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Oilers open ABL playoffs against No. 1 Miners

Upon finishing the year under .500 and over 10 games behind the Alaska Baseball League leader, the Peninsula Oilers have reached one goal. The next… Continue reading

Peninsula Oilers starter Joey Becher delivers a pitch to a Chugiak Chinooks batter Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Oiler cling to 1-game lead over Chinooks in playoff chase

For all the trouble the Peninsula Oilers had bringing home base runners Friday night at Coral Seymour Memorial Park, even Dorothy of Kansas wouldn’t have… Continue reading

Peninsula Oilers starter Joey Becher delivers a pitch to a Chugiak Chinooks batter Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Caleb Hicks tips a foul ball off the Chugiak Chinooks in a July 28 game at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Dual player Hicks brings power, arm to Oilers

The sign Peninsula Oilers catcher Mikey Hoehner was giving pitcher Caleb Hicks in the ninth inning at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark indicated fastball. The response?… Continue reading

Caleb Hicks tips a foul ball off the Chugiak Chinooks in a July 28 game at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Adam Rojas of the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks slides under the tag of Oilers shortstop Caleb Hicks in the top of the second inning Thursday, July 27, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Oilers get key win over Chinooks

With the Alaska Baseball League summer season winding down and playoff spots on the line, the Peninsula Oilers may have made the right moves under… Continue reading

Adam Rojas of the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks slides under the tag of Oilers shortstop Caleb Hicks in the top of the second inning Thursday, July 27, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Locals recount Extreme Alaskaman race

The “Extreme” moniker in the Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon did not disappoint in its inaugural year, and neither did Kenai’s Heather Moon. Moon was one of… Continue reading

A field of 14 Sprint Cars line up in a traditional three-wide “Salute to the Fans” during the running of the Alaska Dirt Track Shootout held Saturday at Twin City Raceway in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Dirt Track Shootout brings in racers from across Alaska

It takes a certain type of brashness and bravery to hurl a 500-horsepower Sprint Car at high speed into a dirt embankment with over a… Continue reading

A field of 14 Sprint Cars line up in a traditional three-wide “Salute to the Fans” during the running of the Alaska Dirt Track Shootout held Saturday at Twin City Raceway in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Raymond Kerr of the Peninsula Oilers swings at a pitch from the Anchorage Bucs Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Bucs charge back to sweep Oilers in Friday ABL doubleheader

A disastrous closeout inning by the Peninsula Oilers ruined a sparkling outing for Soldotna pitcher Joey Becher and opened up the door for the Anchorage… Continue reading

Raymond Kerr of the Peninsula Oilers swings at a pitch from the Anchorage Bucs Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Peninsula Oilers public address announcer Casey Roehl keeps score in the press booth at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark during a July 19 Alaska Baseball League contest against the Anchorage Bucs. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Roehl keeps stock rising in broadcasting game for Oilers

Ask a third-grader what he or she wants to be when they grow up, and it’s a near certainty that among the responses will be… Continue reading

Peninsula Oilers public address announcer Casey Roehl keeps score in the press booth at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark during a July 19 Alaska Baseball League contest against the Anchorage Bucs. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Peninsula Oilers third baseman Caleb Hicks connects with a pitch from Anchorage Bucs starter Seth Kaneen Thursday at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion) Peninsula Oilers third baseman Caleb Hicks connects with a pitch from Anchorage Bucs starter Seth Kaneen on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Oilers, Bucs split

With the race for the final playoff spot in the Alaska Baseball League heating up, so are the Peninsula Oilers. The Oilers split a doubleheader,… Continue reading

Peninsula Oilers third baseman Caleb Hicks connects with a pitch from Anchorage Bucs starter Seth Kaneen Thursday at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion) Peninsula Oilers third baseman Caleb Hicks connects with a pitch from Anchorage Bucs starter Seth Kaneen on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Peninsula Oilers second baseman Ryan Smith lobs a double play throw to first baseman Benjamin Wanger against the Anchorage Bucs Wednesday night at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion) Peninsula Oilers second baseman Ryan Smith lobs a double play throw to first baseman Benjamin Wanger against the Anchorage Bucs Wednesday night at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Kerr pitches Oilers past Bucs in the rain

Temperatures were cool and the field was wet Wednesday evening at Coral Seymour Memorial Park, but the Peninsula Oilers were sizzling in the rain. The… Continue reading

Peninsula Oilers second baseman Ryan Smith lobs a double play throw to first baseman Benjamin Wanger against the Anchorage Bucs Wednesday night at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion) Peninsula Oilers second baseman Ryan Smith lobs a double play throw to first baseman Benjamin Wanger against the Anchorage Bucs Wednesday night at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)

Ninilchik boys hoops coach Finley heads south

The core domino of the Class 1A hoops powerhouse Ninilchik boys team fell this week when head coach Nick Finley announced his departure to another… Continue reading

Quelland walk-off sends Twins to victory over South

Quelland walk-off sends Twins to victory over South

In a year that the Post 20 Twins have dealt with a post-championship rebuilding effort, Saturday’s clash with South Anchorage could prove to be the… Continue reading

Quelland walk-off sends Twins to victory over South
Ten-kilometer race winner Bill Wood approaches the finish line Saturday at the Rotary Unity Run at Tsalteshi Trails.

Racers wind through trails at Rotary Unity run

The topsy-turvy events that marked Saturday’s Soldotna Rotary Unity Run began right from the opening gun. Almost immediately after the field of 28 runners took… Continue reading

Ten-kilometer race winner Bill Wood approaches the finish line Saturday at the Rotary Unity Run at Tsalteshi Trails.