The little things added up to a big problem for the Kenai Central softball team in a 19-3 Northern Lights Conference loss to Soldotna in three innings on Saturday at Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai.
The Stars improved to 2-1 in the league and 5-5 overall, while Kenai drops to 0-4 in the league and 3-9 overall. The teams had split two previous games this season.
In the top of the first inning, the Stars took a 12-0 lead by sending 18 batters to the plate. Ten of the runs came after two were out, and Kenai had multiple errors that extended the inning.
“The lesson here, and we talked about it, is you have to do all the little things correctly,” Kenai coach Bob Frates said. “And when you don’t, this is what happens.
“We can’t fall behind like that because it’s too tough to come back and make up that deficit, especially against a team like this.”
The top three in SoHi’s lineup had a big day, with Emily Hinz getting two hits and three runs, Bailey Conner getting two hits, two RBIs and three runs, and Miah Mead scoring two runs.
“Our top of the lineup is very disciplined in regards to that,” SoHi coach Mike Diaz said of getting on base. “We depend on them getting on base, so that the middle of our lineup can drive them in.”
No. 4 hitter Brook Fischer came through with three RBIs for the Stars.
Also for SoHi, Lexi Stormo had two runs, Isabelle Cruz had two hits, two runs and two RBIs, Makynzi Deborski had two hits and two RBIs, and Alyssa McDonald had two hits, two runs and three RBIs.
Coach Cruz also gave his team credit for not letting down once they got the big lead. Mead pitched three innings, walking just two and giving up three runs on four hits.
“That’s what we really want from our pitchers is just continue to throw strikes,” Cruz said. “We do play a little relaxed at times, but we always think the score is 1-0 just to keep it tight.”
The Kards used four pitchers, with Libby Brinner giving up four runs, Lola McEwen giving up eight runs, Maggie Grenier giving up one run and Avery Ellis giving up six runs.
“They did a good job battling back, but we just can’t get ourselves that far behind,” Frates said.
Grenier had a hit and a run for the Kards, while Giselle Thomas had a run and an RBI and Kailey Stynsberg had the other run. Shelby O’Brien, Avia Miller and McEwen also had hits for Kenai.
Homer finishes 0-4 at Blue/Gold Tournament in Anchorage
The Homer softball team finished 0-4 at the Blue/Gold Tournament in Anchorage on Friday and Saturday.
Friday, Homer lost to South 20-1, Service 12-0 and Dimond 17-0.
Saturday, the Mariners lost to Eagle River 6-1. Zoe Adkins had a pair of hits for Homer, while Kaylin Anderson had a hit and a run.
Soldotna’s Miah Mead delivers to Kenai Central on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Field in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
