The Kenai Central baseball team notched a 12-8 comeback victory over Colony on Monday in Southcentral Conference baseball action at the Kenai Little League fields.
The Kardinals improved to 6-0 in the conference and overall.
“These guys are playing super confident,” Kenai coach Steve Nimcheski said. “We were kind of playing from behind all game.”
Colony went up 4-0 in the first inning, but the Kards led 5-4 after two. Colony then took a 7-6 lead in the fifth inning, but a six-run rally by the Kardinals in the sixth inning proved to be the difference.
Paul Steffensen pitched the first 6 1-3 innings for the Kards, giving up eight runs — five earned. He gave up nine hits while striking out three, walking one and hitting one. Gavin Petterson got the last two outs, walking one, hitting one and striking out one.
At the plate, Steffensen was 4 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs; Petterson was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, a double and two runs; Zach Selinger was 1 for 2 with the go-ahead triple in the sixth plus two walks and three runs; Jakeb O’Brien was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and three stolen bases; and Levi Mese walked three times.
Nimcheski said Nos. 7, 8 and 9 hitters Mese, Knox Amend and Steven Norvelle are doing a great job putting together quality at-bats that set the table for the top of the lineup.
“Colony played a good game,” Nimcheski said. “I think they’re the toughest opponent we’ve faced thus far. They played an awesome game in the field and were fundamentally sound. You could tell they are well-coached.”
