The Soldotna softball team defeated Kenai Central 24-3 in three innings on Tuesday in Northern Lights Conference action at Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai.
The Stars, now 6-0 in the league and 15-5-1 overall, scored 12 runs in the top of the first en route to taking a 23-0 lead after two innings against Kenai (2-2, 10-11).
SoHi slugged out 16 hits in the game, with leadoff hitter Tatum Cooper setting the tone by going 2 for 4 with four runs and two RBIs.
“Pass-the-bat mentality, always,” Soldotna head coach Carly Norvelle said. “When one of them gets going, they all just keep following.
“And Tatum’s a pretty consistent hitter, so starting out with her makes the rest of them have the confidence that they can do it too.”
The Stars also were helped by six errors from the Kardinals. Freshman Blakeley Jorgensen worked 2 2-3 innings and of the 24 runs she gave up, four were scored as earned. Jorgensen walked six and struck out four.
Kenai Central head coach John Crapps said the Kardinals knew going into the game that SoHi could hit, so defense would be important.
“They hit well, but a couple base hits aren’t going to kill us, right?” Crapps said. “But when we start missing those opportunities to get outs, that’s what extended those innings a lot longer than they should have been.”
Norvelle said the Stars actually hit faster pitchers like Jorgensen better than slower pitchers.
“I’m proud of my entire lineup because they’ve all been making adjustments and working on hitting,” Norvelle said. “They just continue to excel with it.”
Also having big days at the plate for the Stars were Isabelle Cruz at 4 for 5 with four runs and five RBIs, Alyssa McDonald at 4 for 4 with three runs and five RBIs, Juliet Innes at 2 for 4 with two runs and an RBI, and Lilly Dawley at 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs.
Also, Isabella Gares had four runs, Kathryn DeBardelaben had two runs and Aliya Blough two runs.
Norvelle also gave credit to Cruz for setting the tone on the mound. Cruz went three innings and gave up three runs — two earned — on two hits while walking two and striking out four.
“We feel pretty good,” said Norvelle, a 2013 graduate of Kenai. “It’s always a good victory for me.”
Crapps gave credit to Jorgensen for hanging in there.
“Most pitchers at her age would get frustrated,” Crapps said. “I went out and talked to her twice, and she wanted to stay in the game.
“She was pitching well, even the umpire came over and complimented her. She was still throwing strikes. That took a lot.”
Avery Ellis got the last out for the Kardinals on one batter.
Crapps also was happy with his team pushing across three runs in the bottom of the third. SoHi had defeated Kenai 13-0 on May 5.
“I didn’t want to get shutout again,” Crapps said.
Caitlyn Crapps led Kenai by going 1 for 2 with a run and two RBIs, while Kailey Stynsberg had a hit and an RBI, and Lola McEwen and Kennah Gregory also had runs.
The Stars now travel to Kodiak to play the Bears on Friday at 7 p.m. and on Saturday at 11 a.m. Both teams are undefeated in the conference heading into the series.
Kenai travels to Homer on Friday for a 6 p.m. game, but the event may get turned into a doubleheader after the Kardinals and Mariners didn’t play in Kenai on Monday due to rain.
Kenai Central’s Avery Ellis delivers to Soldotna on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna’s Isabella Gares hits against Kenai Central on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central’s Blakeley Jorgensen delivers to Soldotna on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Central’s Kailey Stynsberg hits against Soldotna on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Steve Shearer Memorial Ball Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
