The Soldotna baseball team defeated Petersburg 11-6 on Saturday to finish 2-2 in the Fourth Annual Buddy Dale Tournament at Wasilla High School and take fifth place out of eight teams.
The game was a rematch of the 2022 Division II state tournament final, which was won by the Stars. Saturday, the game was tied at 2 after the first inning, but SoHi had a 6-2 lead after two innings and a 10-3 lead after five innings.
For the Stars, Derrick Jones had two runs, Levi Mickelson was 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs, Andrew Pieh was 3 for 4, Brett Hostetler was 2 for 2 with two RBIs, Brayden Hostetler was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Colby Sturman was 2 for 4.
Sturman pitched six innings, giving up five runs — four earned — on five hits while walking three and striking out eight. Brett Hostetler finished with an inning, giving up a run on a hit while walking two and striking out one.
Pieh made the all-tournament team, going 6 for 10 in the event with two doubles and a triple.
Kenai Central 15, Grace Christian 5, 6 inn.
The visiting Kardinals notched a Saturday victory in the Southcentral Conference to move to 2-2 in the league and 2-2 overall.
Kenai led 2-1 after an inning, then 7-2 after three innings. By the end of the fifth, Kenai’s lead had grown to 13-4.
For the Kardinals, Owen Whicker had two runs, Daniel Steffensen had three runs, Braden Smith was 3 for 4 with four runs, Charlie Chamberlain had two runs and Gabe Joanis had two runs.
On the mound, Smith went four innings, yielding four runs — two earned — on five hits while walking one and striking out eight. Jackson Marion finished up, going two innings and giving up an unearned run on two hits while walking three and striking out two.
