Homer softball splits opening pool play contests

  • By Staff Report
  • Thursday, May 31, 2018 11:41pm
  • Sports

Opening day of the Division II state softball tournament saw the Homer Mariners go 1-1 in pool play, which sorted all teams into the final championship bracket.

Held at the South Davis Park Complex in Fairbanks, Homer escaped with a 3-2 win over Delta Junction before dropping a 23-1 loss to Ketchikan.

The split showing placed the Mariners into a noon matchup Friday against Kodiak, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals against top-seeded Thunder Mountain at 2:30 p.m.

The Homer-Kodiak contest is a rematch of last week’s Northern Lights Conference championship, which Homer won 8-3.

In the 3-2 win over Delta, Homer took a three-run lead before staving off the Huskies in the last two innings.

Annalynn Brown twirled a tight game in the pitching circle, whiffing six batters in seven shutout innings, and giving up two runs on seven hits and one walk in an orderly 82 pitches.

In a remarkable display of savvy baserunning, Homer’s Haylee Owen scored twice on steals of home plate to score the Mariners’ first two runs. Owen led off the fourth with a single, then made her way around the basepaths with three steals to give Homer a 1-0 advantage.

In the top of the sixth, Owen again singled to get on base, then got to second on a bad throw and got to third on a single from Grace Godfrey, before stealing home again. Godfrey also made it home on a steal to put Homer ahead 3-0.

Delta attempted a comeback with a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the sixth that scored a run and an RBI double by Ashley Brevard in the seventh, but couldn’t finish it off as Brown struck out and lined out the last two batters.

Owen ended up hitting 2 for 3, as did Godfrey and Aspen Walli. Godfrey’s day included a two-out triple in the first.

In the 23-1 loss to Ketchikan, a three-inning affair that ended via mercy rule, Kings pitcher Jenna Miller spun a no-hitter in the shortened game. Miller allowed three walks to Homer and did give up a run while notching one strikeout in the 43-pitch outing.

On offense, Ketchikan ripped off seven runs in the first inning, then sent 15 batters to the plate in a nine-run second to stake out a commanding 16-1 lead. Ketchikan finished the day with 17 base hits, led by Miller’s 4-for-4 outing with four RBIs. Also for the Kings, Dyllan Borer went 3 for 4 with four RBIs.

Brown again started for Homer but was pulled with one out in the second inning. Brown was tagged with eight earned runs on four hits and five walks, while getting one strikeout. Becca Chapman also gave up eight runs in 2/3 innings of relief and Brianna Hetrick let through seven runs in one inning.

Homer’s lone run came in the bottom of the first when Brown led off with a walk, then scored on a steal of home with two outs on the board. Owen and Elizabeth Love were the only other Mariners to get on base with walks.

More in Sports

tease
Soldotna alumni topple Kenai/Nikiski in Redford Cup

The Soldotna/Skyview alumni defeated the Kenai/Nikiski alumni 10-6 on Friday, Dec. 20,… Continue reading

tease
Area racers compete at Besh Cups 1 and 2

Besh Cup races 1 and 2 were held Saturday and Sunday, Dec.… Continue reading

Soldotna's Jacob Strausbaugh wrestles to a technical fall against Student Wrestling Development Program's Brian Grabner in the final at 135 pounds at the Division I state wrestling tournament Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna girls defend state wrestling title

Peninsula brings home 11 state titles

tease
Saturday hoops: SoHi girls, CIA girls, Ninilchik boys wrap up tourney titles

The Soldotna girls and Palmer boys both finished 3-0 to win the… Continue reading

tease
Bears head to break after 1-0 loss to Steel

The visiting Kenai River Brown Bears dropped a 1-0 decision to the… Continue reading

tease
Friday: Soldotna girls, boys basketball moves to 2-0

The Soldotna girls and boys both moved to 2-0 on the young… Continue reading

Homer's Swift Blackstock takes a shot at the Candy Cane Scramble on Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, at Tsalteshi Trails just outside of Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai’s Crouse, Homer’s Jaworski capture Candy Cane Scramble ski meet

Kenai Central sophomore Isla Crouse and Homer senior Leif Jaworski won the… Continue reading

tease
Friday: Brown Bears snap 2-game skid

The visiting Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Chippewa (Wisconsin) Steel 5-3… Continue reading

Kenai Central's Bryleigh Williams drives against Palmer's Kaylyn Miller and Jasmine Hephner on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Prep basketball gets rolling on Kenai Peninsula

The prep basketball season opened Thursday with area teams playing at the… Continue reading

Most Read