The Homer softball team defeated visiting Kodiak 15-0 and 12-4 in Northern Lights Conference action in Homer on Friday to wrap up a 14th state berth in the last 15 years.
Homer moves to 5-0 in the league and 8-3 overall.
The 15-0 victory took just 2 1-2 innings. McKi Needham pitched all three innings and did not give up a hit.
On offense, Maggie LaRue was 2 for 2 with two runs and two RBIs; Riley Walls was 3 for 3 with three runs and three RBIs; Needham had two runs; Kyla Pitzman had two runs; Larsen Fellows had two runs; and Kelly Liebers was 2 for 2 with three RBIs.
Kodiak was technically the home team in the second game, so the 12-4 contest went all seven innings.
The Mariners used three pitchers. Pam Jantzi worked the first two innings and gave up no runs on two hits.
Jordan Raymond got in for 2 1-3 innings and gave up four runs — two earned — on three hits. Needham finished up with 2 2-3 innings of scoreless, hitless ball.
At the plate, Needham was 3 for 5 with two RBIs, while Jantzi was 2 for 4; Fellows was 3 for 4 with three RBIs; Kayla Stafford was 3 for 5 with three runs; Pitzman was 2 for 4 with two runs; Walls was 2 for 5 with two runs; and LaRue scored two runs.
Soldotna softball swept on road
The Soldotna softball team lost a pair of nonconference games on the road this weekend, falling to Wasilla 21-6 in three innings Friday and Colony 10-3 in four innings Saturday.
Against Wasilla on Friday, the Stars (1-11 overall) had a 6-2 lead going into the second inning before the Warriors got going. Wasilla had a 9-6 lead before getting 12 runs in the third inning.
Olivia Farrell was 1 for 1 with a double and three RBIs for the Stars, while Megan Ussing had a single and two RBIs.
Against Colony, SoHi again got off to a good start, scoring two in the top of the first. But a huge third inning put the Knights ahead to stay.
SoHi coach Kelli Knoebel said Delaney Schneider pitched a great game on the mound, but her defense had some crucial errors.
Jazi Larrow was 1 for 1 for the Stars, while Ila Cobb had an RBI, Ussing was 1 for 2 with an RBI, and Amber Lohrke had an RBI.
Knoebel said the Stars have had some rough travel lately, playing in Ketchikan last weekend and Homer midweek.
She’s happy the next game is at home — Thursday at 6 p.m. against Kenai.
