The visiting Homer softball team defeated Kenai Central 20-0 in three innings on Tuesday in Northern Lights Conference action.
The Kardinals finish the season at 2-10 overall and 1-5 in the Northern Lights Conference.
Homer is 13-3 overall and 6-0 in the NLC, qualifying the Mariners for the small-schools state tournament.
“I would say the majority of their roster is solid in hitting,” Kenai coach Mark King said. “They’ve got a couple of very solid pitchers. Their defense also is very quick. Very little gets by them.”
Pam Jantzi and McKi Needham combined to hold the Kardinals to three hits. Those hits came from Darcy Blume, Emily Koziczkowski and Kassie Lindsley.
Lindsley and Cierra King could not hold down the Mariners’ lineup. Lindsley pitched two innings and gave up 16 runs — eight earned — on 12 hits. King pitched the last inning and gave up four runs — two earned — on four hits.
For Homer on offense, the leaders were Larsen Fellows at 3 for 3 with two runs and five RBIs, Kayla Stafford at 2 for 3 with two runs, Kyla Pitzman at 2 for 2 with two runs and three RBIs, and Needham at 2 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs.
Also for Homer, Maggie LaRue had three runs, Riley Walls had three runs, Malina Fellows had two runs, Jantzi was 2 for 2 with two RBIs, and Isabel Beach was 2 for 4 with three RBIs.
Alyssa Herr, Ashley Maxson and Erin Cox were honored for Kenai’s senior night. Herr, who played for the program for three years, had the highest on-base percentage on the team this year. Maxson, a four-year player, was in the top five for batting average. Cox, a two-year player, could not play Tuesday due to injury.
King said the team has some things it can build on. He said the Kards did well on the basepaths this season, and also hit well for a young squad.
Sophomore pitchers Lindsley and King also got valuable experience.
He said the biggest thing Kenai must work on is limiting errors.
But developing teams at SoHi and Kenai have King seeing parity with Homer and Kodiak soon.
“In the future, in the next couple of years, the playing field should be a lot more equal,” he said.
