The Kenai Central baseball team defeated Soldotna 4-3 on Monday in Northern Lights Conference action at the Soldotna Little League fields in Soldotna.

The Kardinals improved to 2-1 in the league and 3-1 overall. The Stars, the three-time defending Division II state champs, played their first Division II competition of the season and fell to 0-1 in the league and 2-7-2 overall.

This is the third straight season Kenai defeated Soldotna in the first game of the season between the two rivals.

Braden Smith turned in a gem for Kenai. He went all seven innings and gave up three runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out nine.

Kenai head coach Christian Stephanos said Smith’s arm was sore after an inning in a previous appearance.

“Today, every time I asked, he said his arm’s good to go,” Stephanos said. “He showed it out there.”

Soldotna coach Ken Gibson said the Stars knew how good Smith is. Last season, Smith was outdueled by Trenton Ohnemus as the Stars won the NLC championship game 2-1.

Monday, Smith threw 79 strikes on 113 pitches.

“He was in a rhythm,” Gibson said. “He was just staying in there and throwing strikes. He did great.”

Smith was at his best when the pressure was greatest.

Kenai took a 4-2 lead into the sixth inning. Wyatt Gagnon completed a 3 for 3 day with a single that scored Brett Hostetler to make it 4-3.

“That’s about the best at-bats he’s had,” said Gibson of Gagnon. “When he’s doing that, he’s a really hard out.”

SoHi put runners on second and third with one out in the sixth, but Smith struck out Easton Hawkins and Matthew Schilling to preserve the lead. Schilling was fresh off making the all-tournament team at the Buddy Dale Invitational.

“The best thing about our team is their mental toughness,” Stephanos said. “We get down in holes, we have an error here or there, and they pick themselves up and keep fighting.

“And that’s what they did every time tonight.”

Kenai would have to do more of that to close the game in the bottom of the seventh.

Colby Sturman started the inning by reaching on an error, but was cut down trying to steal second by Kenai catcher Logan Mese.

“He does all the things you want in a good catcher really well,” Stephanos said.

Trenton Ohnemus, who finished 2 for 4, singled and Brenden Theel bunted for a single to put runners on first and second. Brett Hostetler sacrificed the runners to second and third.

That brought Jett Brophy, also on the all-tournament team at Buddy Dale, to the plate. Smith struck out Brophy, who finished 2 for 4, to end the game.

“Soldotna is a great team,” Stephanos said. “They have three banners to prove it. Anytime we can compete with them, it feels good. It’s a good confidence booster.

“We’re ready for late season against them, where hopefully we’ll have the same results.”

The Kardinals got to Schilling for four runs — three earned — on four hits in four innings.

Kenai grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the third.

Mese, who finished 2 for 3, singled to start the inning and scored on an Avery Martin single. Martin was then picked off — one of three times a Kardinal was plucked off the basepaths in the game.

Daniel Steffensen and Smith restarted the rally with walks. Steffensen came in on a passed ball, while Smith scored on a Gabe Joanis single.

The Stars cut it to 3-2 in the bottom of the inning when Schilling doubled to score Malakai BeDunnah and Gagnon.

Kenai made it 4-2 in the fifth when Martin led off with a walk and scored on a Smith grounder.

Samuel Graham and BeDunnah kept Kenai off the board in the final three innings.

Despite where the squad’s record is at, Gibson is happy with the direction of the team and program.

The Stars lost four seniors after last season, but have eight seniors this season.

“We didn’t just play DI teams,” Gibson said. “We played some really good DI teams.”

Gibson said there are 35 players in his program. He said Soldotna Little League also is really healthy, with five senior teams.

“For the next couple of years, we’re going to have a lot of kids,” Gibson said.

Kenai Central’s Everett Chamberlain tags out Soldotna’s Colby Sturman on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Soldotna Little League fields in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Matthew Schilling delivers to Kenai Central on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Soldotna Little League fields in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai’s Central’s Jacob Joanis and Braden Smith celebrate a victory over Soldotna on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Soldotna Little League fields in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Brenden Theel tags out Kenai Central’s Keoni Beddow on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the Soldotna Little League fields in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)