The Kenai Central softball team picked up its first victory of the season, thumping host Houston 18-4 in 5 innings Saturday in Northern Lights Conference action.
The Kardinals are now 1-3 in the league and 1-5 overall.
“They’ve been improving every game, and they needed that,” Kenai coach John Manley said of the win. “They lost a couple close games and finally got a victory.”
Savannah Jones was in control on the mound all five innings, striking out 10. Manley added she was backed up by good defense.
Alyssa Stanton had one inside-the-park home run among her three hits, scoring four runs. Also for the Kards, Lexy Carrasco had three runs and two RBIs, Leinani Rapoza had three hits, Kaylee Lauritsen had two hits, Lexi Reis had two hits, Neirad Phillips had two hits and Kiera Duby scored three runs.
Colony 9, Kenai 8
In a game cut to four innings due to a time limit, the host Knights scored twice in the bottom of the fourth inning to secure a nonconference victory over the Kardinals on Friday.
Kenai coach John Manley said his team continues to show a lot of improvement.
“The weather was so cold,” Manley said. “It was the coldest game I’ve ever been involved in.”
The coach said the frigid temperatures affected the throwing of both teams. Considering that, Manley said Kenai’s Savannah Jones did a fine job on the mound.
“We played pretty good defense, considering the weather,” Manley said.
Leinani Rapoza had two hits and a run while Alyssa Stanton, Jones, Zaharah Wilshusen, Kiera Duby and Lexy Carrasco all had a hit and a run.
Homer 10, Kodiak 0
Annalynn Brown tossed a complete game shutout and the Mariners improved to 4-6 overall in 2018 with a Saturday victory over Kodiak on the road.
Brown struck out 10 batters in five innings of work, while avoiding walks as well. Brown was tagged with five base hits, but that would be all for Kodiak.
Homer did most of its damage in the fifth inning with six runs, highlighted by a triple by Grace Godfrey and a single by Briana Hetrick. Godfrey finished the game with four RBIs. Becca Chapman and Brown both drew walks to come around and score.
The Mariners only knocked out three base hits, but they didn’t need many since they took 14 walks, including three by Brown as a batter.
