The Kenai Central baseball team defeated Homer 20-5 by mercy rule in two innings Tuesday at the Kenai Little League fields in Northern Lights Conference action.
The Kardinals move to 6-2 in the league and 6-2 overall, while the Mariners fall to 1-4 and 1-4.
Kenai grabbed a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but Homer came back to lead 5-3 after the top of the second.
The Kardinals then scored 17 runs in the bottom of the second inning. There were two outs when Kenai went up by 15 to put the mercy rule in effect.
“We’re putting the ball in play, and when you put the ball in play, good things typically happen,” Kenai coach Luke Oliver said. “You force the other team to make plays, and it’s hard to do that sometimes.
“We were finding gaps tonight.”
Zane Pellegrom was 3 for 3 with three runs and four RBIs to lead the Kards, while Braden Smith was 3 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs, Kalani Beddow had three runs, Gabe Joanis had three RBIs, Avery Martin had two runs, Jayden Sandahl had three runs and Jackson Marion had two runs.
It wasn’t all good news for the Kards. Charlie Chamberlain went two innings for the Kards and all five runs he gave up were unearned as Kenai committed two errors. Chamberlain also walked four.
“Defensively, we have some little things we need to tighten up, especially if we want to compete at the state level,” Oliver said. “There’s going to be some good teams at state and we want to get there and be competitive.
“So we need to get back to work tomorrow.”
Oliver said he is happy the Kards had such a strong response to giving up the lead.
Homer coach Michael Hayes said a wet and cold spring means this is only Homer’s second week on a field. He said the Mariners have only had one practice on their field.
Homer made eight errors. Hayes said it’s impossible to practice fly balls and infield grounders in a gym.
“As you get further and further into the spring, that gym gets smaller and smaller,” Hayes said. “There’s only so many things you can accomplish.”
Hayes did say the Mariners have been able to spend a lot of time on the mechanics of hitting. Willem Hakala led that effort by going 2 for 2 with two RBIs.
The coach also gave pitcher Camden Wise credit for pitching through all the errors.
“A lot of it is the kids being able to erase the play that came before,” Hayes said.
Hayes said Homer has good ballplayers that have played with the Kenai ballplayers for years. The Mariners just need to focus and realize what they are capable of if walks and errors are eliminated.
“It’s tough,” Hayes said. “We just got on the field last week and next week is the end of our regular season.
“When you’re playing on grass and you don’t have that turf where you can get that extra month outside if it’s a nice spring. There’s nothing you can do for the game reps.”
Kenai Central’s Avery Martin arrives safely at second base in front of Homer second baseman Preston Stanislaw on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at the Kenai Little League fields in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
