The Kenai Central baseball team held off Houston 8-7 on Wednesday at the Kenai Little League fields in Southcentral Conference action.
The Kardinals moved to 4-4 overall and in the league by walking eight times to overcome getting outhit 9-7.
“We took advantage of what they gave us,” Kenai coach John Kennedy said.
Kenai actually trailed 2-1 after the first inning and 4-3 after three innings. The Kards took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning for a 6-4 game.
Houston came right back to tie it up at 6 in the top of the sixth, but Gavin Petterson had a two-run home run in the bottom of six. It was Petterson’s first home run.
Houston then rallied in the top of the seventh, scoring a run and putting the tying run on third with two outs. But Sam Combs induced a soft liner to shortstop Paul Steffensen to end the game.
“It was a great game,” Kennedy said. “A lot of teams in the region are pretty competitive with each other.
“Both games, JV and varsity, were good for our kids.”
Steffensen pitched the first three innings, giving up five hits and four earned runs while striking out one.
Petterson picked up the win, working three innings and giving up two hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out five.
In his one inning of work for the save, Combs gave up two hits and an earned run while walking one and striking out one.
Steffensen was 2 for 4 with three runs at the plate, while Petterson was 1 for 2 with two runs and two RBIs.
“For our kids, it was a great win,” Kennedy said. “They’re not the most experienced team but I will give the kids credit — they come out and play hard.”
