The Soldotna and Kenai Central softball teams will play in the Division II state softball tournament at Cartee Fields in Anchorage from Thursday to Saturday.
On Saturday, May 31, Kenai’s season looked to be over. The Stars had a 10-9, walkoff victory over the Kardinals to wrap up the second and final state berth at the Northern Lights Conference tournament in Kodiak.
Jesse Settlemyer, Kenai athletic director, wrote in a text message that he got a text message Sunday that one of the Mid Alaska Conference teams wasn’t able to field a team for state, so the Kardinals were in.
The Stars are appearing at the Division II tourney for the eighth time, with a best finish of third in 2010. Kenai is at state for the second time after finishing in a tie for fifth in 2023.
The state tournament uses pool play Thursday to seed bracket play for Friday and Saturday.
The Stars (23-8-1) open against Sitka at noon Thursday. This will be the first matchup for those teams this season.
SoHi then plays Kenai (18-15) at 2:30 p.m. Thursday. The Stars are 5-0 against the Kardinals this season.
The Kards then play Sitka at 5 p.m. Thursday. The Wolves own a 9-2 victory over the Kardinals this season.
