Baseball roundup

  • By Staff Report
  • Sunday, April 30, 2017 12:26am
  • Sports

The Wasilla Warriors toppled the Soldotna Stars 5-4 in walkoff fashion Saturday in Wasilla.

After defeating SoHi 5-0 in last year’s Southcentral Conference championship, the Warriors have continued to hold back the Stars, sweeping their southerly rivals in a pair of games Friday and Saturday.

In Saturday’s contest, Wasilla squandered a 4-0 lead over SoHi, giving up three runs in the top of the fifth inning and one in the seventh.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Down 4-3 entering the top of the seventh, SoHi got a leadoff single from Austin Asp, who eventually scored the tying run on a two-out single by Caleb Spence.

However, Wasilla had an answer at the bottom of the frame. After Stars reliever Tanner Ussing notched the first two outs, Ben Werner was issued a walk, and two batters later, Cyrus Lovell sent a blooper to left centerfield that was bobbled by SoHi’s outfield, opening up the gates for Werner to score the walkoff run.

Soldotna head coach Robb Quelland praised his team’s persistence and fight throughout the weekend.

“I think it really showed the tenacity of our team,” Quelland said. “We’re still trying to get our feet under us, we’re still catching up with the pitching.”

The Stars outhit the Warriors 8 to 4, led by Jeremy Kupferschmid’s 3-for-4 outing, while Terrence Slats knocked in two runs on a base hit.

SoHi starting pitcher Jake Marcuson lasted 2 1-3 innings, giving up three earned runs on two hits and three walks. Asp entered in relief and pitched 2 2-3 scoreless innings with two hits and zero walks. Ussing took the loss with 1 2-3 innings, walking three batters.

Austin Robertson received the win for Wasilla, giving up one run on three hits in two frames.

“It was a great weekend,” Quelland said. “Nothing like going up against one of the best teams in the state to test yourself.”

Kenai 6, Houston 5

The Kardinals finished their weekend Saturday with a tight win over Houston on the road.

Kenai 17, Palmer 5

The Kenai Central baseball squad opened its season Friday with a dominant road victory over Palmer. The Kardinals held leads of 5-0 and 10-2 as they mercy-ruled the Moose in six innings.

Gavin Pettersen pitched a complete game, giving up just three hits and smoking eight strikeouts, with four walks.

“We had an awesome defensive game,” said Kenai head coach Steve Nimcheski. “We had three or four ESPN highlight plays, and not a single error in the infield.”

Nimcheski said Paul Steffensen at shortstop played a role in a Kardinals infield that made it tough for Palmer to hit to the outfield, allowing Petersen to keep his pitch count low.

“(Pettersen) had good stuff today, and they were freeswinging,” Nimcheski said. “He was locating stuff well and had good command of his off-speed stuff.”

Meanwhile, the Moose had a tough go of it against Kenai’s patient batting, giving up nine walks alone the way. Steffensen and Zack Sullenger led the Kards by going 2 for 4 with a double each. Pettersen and Nick Beeson also had big hits, Nimcheski said, and Jakeb O’Brien notched a double.

Kenai rattled off four runs in the second inning to grab a five-run lead before Palmer could answer with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Kenai plated two more runs in the third and three in the fourth before the Moose scored another two. Kenai scored four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to cap the game.

Wasilla 8, Soldotna 6

The Warriors prevailed Friday evening in a rematch of last year’s Southcentral Conference title game, which Wasilla also won.

The Wasilla pitching staff limited SoHi to one hit, which was given up by starter Balas Buckmester. Buckmester went 4 2-3 innings and gave up just one earned run on six walks, while also striking out six. Ben Werner, Austin Robertson and Cyrus Lovell finished the game with hitless ball, although they combined to give up four runs on five walks. Werned earned the win.

Cody Quelland took the loss in his season debut, giving up six runs — but only one earned — in 4 2-3 innings on four hits. Quelland struck out five but also walked five. Austin Asp finished the day with two unearned runs on one hit and one walk, striking out two in 1 1-3 frames.

Quelland also notched SoHi’s lone hit of the day, and stole a base.

Wasilla struck first with a run in the bottom of the second inning, but the Stars responded in the top of the third with a run to tie it. The Warriors then took matters into their own hands with five runs in the bottom of the frame, and two runs each by SoHi in the sixth and seventh innings couldn’t complete the comeback.

More in Sports

Daniel Steffensen bats against the Post 35 Road Warriors on Saturday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park as part of the 100th anniversary of American Legion Baseball in Alaska. (Jonas Oyoumick/Peninsula Clarion)
100 years of Legion baseball in Alaska celebrated Saturday

Twins defeated the Post 35 Road Warriors

Zac Cowan putts a golf ball into a hole during the Alaska Sign Source Pro Am at Birch Ridge Golf Course in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Azzara, Moore win Birch Ridge Pro Am

The top four pros were rounded out by Zac Cowan with 78 and Bill Engberg at 84.

tease
1st Soldotna Cycle Series of the year draws 49

The first Soldotna Cycle Series race took place Thursday, July 10, at… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Can things get even better?

The silvers are starting to get their finny freak on at our famous Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon.

Runners line up at the start for the Seldovia Salmon Shuffle 5K race on Friday, July 4, 2025, in Seldovia, Alaska. Photo courtesy Ecola Collier
255 do the Salmon Shuffle

The 5K race is held annually as part of Seldovia’s 4th of July celebrations.

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Hard luck at the fishing hole

The action wasn’t as hot as in the past, but neither was the run.

Seward's Fred Moore stands at the base of Mount Marathon in Seward, Alaska, on Monday, June 24, 2019. Moore will run in his 50th consecutive Mount Marathon race on July 4. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
‘It’s been a good run’

Seward’s Moore explains his decision to end his Mount Marathon streak at 54

Matthew Schilling of the American Legion Post 20 Twins slides safely past Eagle River catcher Jack Mullen on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Monday: Twins keep rolling with sweep of Eagle River

The American Legion Post 20 Twins swept Eagle River on Monday at… Continue reading

The juniors start at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Zuber, Flagstad capture junior Mount Marathon races

Kenai’s Boonstra takes 2nd in junior girls race

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in