The Kardinals baseball squad subdued the Houston Hawks with an 11-2 win Friday afternoon at Houston High School. Kenai racked up 14 hits to Houston’s five.

Kenai improved to 1-3 overall this year.

Sam Combs went 3 for 4 with two RBI and two runs to lead Kenai’s offense, while Paul and Ellery Steffensen both hit 3 for 5 with three runs between the two of them. Taylor Landry also hit 2 for 4 with two RBI. 

Paul Steffensen earned the win on the mound, pitching a complete game of five hits, seven strikeouts, three walks and one earned run.

Kenai started hot with six runs in the first inning, then added two more in the second and one in the third for a 9-0 lead after three innings.

Houston scored one run in both the third and fifth innings.

Kodiak 9, Homer 7

The Kodiak baseball team used a fifth-inning rally to beat Homer Friday in Northern Lights Conference action. The Mariners dropped to 2-3 in the conference and 3-4 overall.

After going up 2-1 following the first inning, the game featured a seesaw look, as Kodiak tied it up at 2-2 at the top of the third, Homer retook the lead 4-2 at the bottom of the third, Kodiak tied it up again in the fourth, and Homer went up again in the bottom of the fourth with a 6-4 lead.

In the fifth inning, however, Homer starting pitcher Brandon Beachy just couldn’t hold on any longer, as the Bears scored three runs to take a 7-6 lead, which they held to the end. Beachy ended with five innings of work with four hits, three strikeouts and six walks. Kyle Johnson took over and went the final two innings with two hits, two strikeouts and one walk.

Greg Smith went 2 for 3 from the plate to lead Homer’s offense, and Wylie Donich joined him with a 2 for 4 batting performance.

Branden Pickett earned the win on the mound for Kodiak, pitching five innings of work.

Soldotna 7, Palmer 6

The Soldotna baseball squad claimed a much-needed weekend sweep, winning Friday’s seven-inning game 7-6 against Palmer 7-6 and Saturday’s five-inning game 13-2 over Houston.

The wins boosted SoHi’s season mark to 2-3 overall and in the Northern Lights Conference.

After being swept by Kodiak earlier in the season, Soldotna coach Robb Quelland said he was pleased to see the progress of the Stars.

“It’s amazing what time on the field and playing as a team can do,” Quelland said. “The kids are finding their roles, it’s been amazing the transformation from that first weekend in Kodiak.”

With “masterful work by Justice Miller”, SoHi edged the Moose on Friday. Miller pitched five innings on the mound with no runs given up, four hits and four strikeouts. From there, Calvin Hills tossed 1 2-3 innings with five runs given up, and Covey took care of the final out with one run. Covey was credited with the save.

Hills hit 2 for 3 from the plate with two walks and two runs, while teammate Trayton Berg went 3 for 4 with a walk and three runs and Miller was 3 for 4 with a run.

Soldotna 13, Houston 2

Saturday against Houston, Joey Becher tossed a complete game with five hits, five strikeouts, three walks and one earned run.

Berg hit 2 for 4 to lead SoHi’s offense, and added two walks, three runs and stole four bases. Covey hit 1 for 2 with a pair of walks, three runs and four stolen bases as well. Terrance Flats also stole four bases, and Hills stole twice.

Soldotna will play its first home game Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Homer.