Top-seeded Kodiak defeated No. 2 Soldotna 4-3 in the semifinals of the Northern Lights Conference tournament at Kodiak on Friday.
The Bears clinch one of the tournament’s two Division II state berths. Kodiak can win its third straight tournament title at 1 p.m., or in the 3:30 p.m. if-necessary game if the Bears lose at 1 p.m.
The Stars still have a chance at a state berth and a tournament title. At 11 a.m., Soldotna plays the winner of the 9 a.m. game between No. 3 Kenai and No. 4 Palmer.
The winner gets the other state berth and the chance to defeat Kodiak twice for the title.
In the playback bracket Friday, No. 6 Homer started with an 18-4 victory over No. 7 Redington. Palmer then ended Homer’s season with a 17-5 win.
Kenai kept its season alive with a 16-5 victory over No. 5 Houston.
The Stars had started the day with a 20-11 victory over Kenai in the quarterfinals.
Kodiak 4, Soldotna 3
The Stars fell to 22-7-1 after the Bears were able to walk off in the seventh inning.
SoHi had scored three times in the top of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but a pair of Kodiak triples and a two-out single were enough to let the Bears prevail.
Isabelle Cruz went 6 2-3 innings for SoHi, yielding four runs — three earned — on seven hits while walking three and striking out four.
Alyssa McDonald was 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI for SoHi, while Isabella Gares was 2 for 4 and Kacey Cunningham had two RBIs.
Kenai 16, Houston 5
The Kardinals moved to 17-14 overall and stayed alive in the playback bracket with a five-inning victory.
Kennah Gregory worked the first three innings for Kenai, giving up five runs — four earned — on six hits while walking seven and striking out three. Blakeley Jorgensen finished with two scoreless and hitless innings, striking out three.
Kailey Stynsberg was 2 for 4 with three runs and two RBIs for Kenai, while Seylor Tomrdle was 3 for 3 with two runs.
Also, Kayani Whicker had two runs, Avery Ellis had two runs, Jorgensen had three runs and two RBIs, Caitlyn Crapps had two runs and Avia Miller had two RBIs.
Palmer 17, Homer 5
The Mariners finished their season 7-20 after losing to the Moose in four innings in the playback bracket.
Palmer had a 6-5 lead before scoring 10 times in the bottom of the third inning.
Becca Trowbridge pitched one-third of an inning, giving up two runs on three hits. Keagan Niebuhr pitched 2 2-3 innings, giving up 15 runs on 10 hits.
Amakah Stineff was 3 for 3 for Homer, while Natalie Hinsberger was 2 for 2, Niebuhr was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and Ali Gall was 2 for 2. Trowbridge scored two runs.
Homer 18, Redington 4
The Mariners started the day by staying alive in the playback bracket in a four-inning game.
Homer led 2-1 entering the bottom of the second inning, then scored 11 runs to take command of the game.
Keagan Niebuhr went all four innings for Homer, giving up four runs — two earned — on eight hits while walking three and striking out nine.
Becca Trowbridge went 4 for 4 with four runs and an RBI for Homer, while Natalie Hinsberger was 2 for 3 with four runs and two RBIs, Niebuhr was 2 for 3 with four RBIs, Amakah Stineff was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, Natalie Farren was 2 for 2 with two runs, Piper Arno was 2 for 2, Ali Gall had two runs, Amanda Toci was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Almalinda Norman had two runs.
Soldotna 20, Kenai 11
The Stars started the day with a five-inning victory in the quarterfinals.
SoHi’s offense carried the way, as the Stars pounded out 19 hits.
Tatum Cooper was 4 for 5 with four runs and two RBIs, Isabella Gares was 2 for 4 with two runs and five RBIs, Isabelle Cruz was 2 for 3 with three runs and three RBIs, Alyssa McDonald was 2 for 3 with three runs and two RBIs, Kacey Cunningham was 3 for 4 with two runs, Lilly Dawley was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Aliya Blough had three runs.
Cruz went five innings for SoHi, giving up 11 runs — six earned — on seven hits while walking three and striking out seven.
For the Kardinals, Seylor Tomrdle was 2 for 3 with three runs and three RBIs, while Avery Ellis had two runs and two RBIs, and Kailey Stynsberg had two runs.
Ellis pitched 3 1-3 innings, giving up 20 runs — 17 earned — on 19 hits. Kennah Gregory got two outs for Kenai without incident.
Kenaiճ Kailey Stynsberg runs to first base during a consolation game of the Northern Lights Conference tournament Friday, May 30, at Baranof Field in Kodiak, Alaska. (DEREK CLARKSTON/Kodiak Daily Mirror)
