Sports

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Homer softball drops 2 at Sitka tourney

The Homer softball team opened its season Thursday at the Sitka High School Softball Tournament. The Mariners lost to Sitka 10-0 and Thunder Mountain 16-2.… Continue reading

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Soldotna baseball, softball teams cancel trip to Kodiak

The Soldotna baseball and softball teams did not travel to Kodiak due to weather. The baseball team was set to open its season Thursday and… Continue reading

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A group of caribou mosey across Murwood Avenue near Soldotna, Alaska, on Sunday, April 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Out of the Office: ‘Let’s mosey’

Sunday, I photographed some caribou close to my home. As I photographed them, a couple looked curiously at me, but they didn’t seem particularly interested… Continue reading

A group of caribou mosey across Murwood Avenue near Soldotna, Alaska, on Sunday, April 14, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer goalie Christi Weisser keeps the ball from Kenai Central's Katie Johnson on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Homer goalie Christi Weisser keeps the ball from Kenai Central's Katie Johnson on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at Ed Hollier Field at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central’s Kylee Verkuilen races Nikiski for control of the ball during a soccer game at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, April 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai sweeps, shuts out Nikiski in Friday soccer games

Kenai girls and boys teams opened with early goals

Kenai Central’s Kylee Verkuilen races Nikiski for control of the ball during a soccer game at Ed Hollier Field in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, April 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
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Homer snow shuffles sports schedule

The Mariners were supposed to host Kenai Central in Thursday

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Head coach Taylor Shaw (center) talks to the Kenai River Brown Bears during a timeout at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Season review: Brown Bears hope to build on solid finish to season

It’s not easy to finish a season in last place in a division, yet have plenty of reasons for optimism for the next season

Head coach Taylor Shaw (center) talks to the Kenai River Brown Bears during a timeout at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Saturday, March 23, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
A pair of Trumpeter Swans break through the thin ice in search of emergent vegetation at the Kenai River Flats with Mt. Redoubt in the background. (Photo courtesy T. Eskelin/USFWS)

Refuge Notebook: Has spring sprung?

I have always found the arrival of spring to be championed by the first sightings of geese at the Kenai and Kasilof Flats

A pair of Trumpeter Swans break through the thin ice in search of emergent vegetation at the Kenai River Flats with Mt. Redoubt in the background. (Photo courtesy T. Eskelin/USFWS)
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Peninsula Piranhas win South Central Area Championships

The Peninsula Piranhas won the South Central Area Championships in Homer on Friday and Saturday. The Piranhas finished with 880 points, while Kachemak Swim Club… Continue reading

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Lily Langham of Kenai Central High School and Brooklyn Larsen, Rylie Thompson and Ava Fabian of Soldotna High School, stand for a photo with their medals after competing in the USA Hockey National Championships as part of the Alaska All Stars 19U Division 2A hockey team. (photo provided)

Local skaters help Alaska All Stars to semis of national tourney

Four central Kenai Peninsula skaters were on the Alaska All Stars 19U girls team that made it all the way to the semifinals of the… Continue reading

Lily Langham of Kenai Central High School and Brooklyn Larsen, Rylie Thompson and Ava Fabian of Soldotna High School, stand for a photo with their medals after competing in the USA Hockey National Championships as part of the Alaska All Stars 19U Division 2A hockey team. (photo provided)
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SoHi girls win distance medley relay at Big C Relays

A number of Kenai Peninsula athletes nabbed top-eight finishes at the Russ Edwards Big C Relays at The Dome in Anchorage on Friday and Saturday.… Continue reading

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Saturday: Brown Bears finish season with comeback victory in Fairbanks

The Kenai River Brown Bears finished their season with a 4-3 victory Saturday over the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in… Continue reading

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Friday: Ice Dogs hold off Brown Bears

The Kenai River Brown Bears dropped a 2-1 decision to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs at the Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks on Friday in… Continue reading

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Jim Beeson coaches Kenai Central football on August 11, 1999. (Peninsula Clarion file)

Beeson, Romans part of Alaska High School Hall of Fame 2024 class

Legendary Kenai Peninsula coaches Jim Beeson and Ward Romans were named to the Alaska High School Hall of Fame 2024 class on Tuesday by the… Continue reading

Jim Beeson coaches Kenai Central football on August 11, 1999. (Peninsula Clarion file)
Blackwater Railroad Company and Silas Jones (front left) play at the 30th annual Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Deep Water Dock on the Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)

Out of the Office: Good gathering, good vibes

It’s been a while since I’ve attended a good-old-fashioned social event — albeit this one was technically still for work. Being part of the Homer… Continue reading

Blackwater Railroad Company and Silas Jones (front left) play at the 30th annual Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Deep Water Dock on the Spit in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Hunter Beck, Dan Beck, Emma Beck and Tracie Beck sit at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, as Emma signs a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Hunter is Emma's brother, Dan is Emma's father and Tracie is Emma's mother and the head volleyball coach. (Photo provided)

Beck signs to play with UAA volleyball

Kenai Central senior Emma Beck signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at the University of Alaska Anchorage on Wednesday in the Kenai… Continue reading

Hunter Beck, Dan Beck, Emma Beck and Tracie Beck sit at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, as Emma signs a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Hunter is Emma's brother, Dan is Emma's father and Tracie is Emma's mother and the head volleyball coach. (Photo provided)
John Bryan and Candace Nakagawa, Co-Directors of Sports Science, Strength and Conditioning, clean up the kitchen after preparing a meal for the Kenai River Brown Bears at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, March 29, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

‘The right thing to do’

On mostly volunteer basis, couple overhauls nutrition, strength and conditioning program for Bears

John Bryan and Candace Nakagawa, Co-Directors of Sports Science, Strength and Conditioning, clean up the kitchen after preparing a meal for the Kenai River Brown Bears at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska, on Friday, March 29, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Carter McCormick of the Kenai River Brown Bears can't stuff a goal past Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets goalie Jan Kasal on Sunday, March 31, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Sunday: Jets snap Bears’ winning streak at 4

The Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets defeated the Kenai River Brown Bears 7-2 on Sunday in North American Hockey League action at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.… Continue reading

Carter McCormick of the Kenai River Brown Bears can't stuff a goal past Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets goalie Jan Kasal on Sunday, March 31, 2024, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
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Saturday: Bears notch 5th straight victory

The Kenai River Brown Bears defeated the Janesville (Wisconsin) Jets 8-7 in overtime Saturday in North American Hockey League action at the Soldotna Regional Sports… Continue reading

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Allie Ostrander is presented her award by Stacia Rustad at the Alaska High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at The Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. (Screenshot)

Ostrander nabs 30th at world cross country

Allie Ostrander, a 2015 graduate of Kenai Central, took 30th place at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, on Saturday. Ostrander finished… Continue reading

Allie Ostrander is presented her award by Stacia Rustad at the Alaska High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at The Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. (Screenshot)