The Soldotna baseball team opened its season Thursday at the Sitka American Legion Post 13 Wolves Baseball Tournament by losing to Juneau-Douglas: Yadaa.at Kale 4-2 and playing to a 1-all draw with host Sitka.
The Stars are the three-time defending Division II state champions, while the Crimson Bears and Wolves both play at the Division I level.
SoHi also had the disadvantage of being on a field for the first time Thursday.
In the game against Juneau, which went six innings, SoHi led 2-1 headed to the fifth inning, but the Crimson Bears scored once in the fifth and twice in the sixth.
Brenden Theel pitched 3 1-3 innings for the Stars, giving up an unearned run on a hit while walking two and striking out two.
Jett Brophy went 1 1-3 innings, giving up an unearned run on no hits while walking two and striking out one.
Samuel Graham finished by giving up two unearned runs on a hit in an inning. Graham walked one.
Matthew Schilling had the lone hit for the Stars, while Schilling and Colby Sturman had the runs, and Brett Hostetler had an RBI.
In the Sitka game, the Wolves earned the tie by scoring once in the bottom of the sixth.
Trenton Ohnemus was dominant on the mound, going five scoreless and hitless innings while walking four and striking out 10.
Jack Harper gave up an unearned run on two hits in an inning, striking out one.
Hostetler had SoHi’s lone hit and RBI, while Schilling scored the lone run.
The tournament continues Friday, April 4, with Soldotna playing Juneau at 2 p.m. and facing Sitka at 4 p.m.
