Kenai’s Paul Steffensen extended his college hitting streak to eight games Wednesday, helping third-seeded Mesa Community College advance in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II World Series.
Steffensen got the week started by hitting 1 for 4 in a 2-0 opening-round win against sixth-seeded Lincoln Land (Illinois) Community College on the first day of the tournament in Enid, Oklahoma.
Then, on Tuesday, the 2018 Kenai Central grad went 1 for 4 again with an RBI, but Mesa lost 4-3 in 12 innings to Madison (Wisconsin) College. Later on Tuesday, Mesa beat Northeast College 8-6 in 10 innings, advancing the Thunderbirds to the semifinal round. Steffensen hit 2 for 6 in that game, including a game-tying RBI groundout in the eight inning.
Wednesday, Mesa beat Madison 11-3, as Steffensen went 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs. Mesa will face Madison again Thursday in an elimination game, with the winner advancing to the finals.
