The Mariner Varsity baseball team fell just short of their quest for a spot in the state baseball tournament, seeing its season end last Friday after a solid run in the Region III tournament in Wasilla last week.
The Mariners played four games in the Region tourney, winning two and losing two. After losing in the semi-finals in the loser bracket their season came to a close.
The Homer baseball team, No. 3 from the south, earned a 7-2 victory over the Warriors, No. 2 from the north, in the first round of the Northern Lights Conference tournament at Wasilla on May 23. Zach Haning was the winning pitcher. Homer scored a run in the first, Wasilla answered with two of their own. Homer retook the lead in the third and added four more in the fifth without allowing any more Wasilla runs.
In game 2 of Regions, Homer fell to Kodiak 9-2. Kodiak was up 2-0 in the first inning. Homer scored in the third on doubles by JJ Sonnen and Brian Rowe and a sacrifice fly by Zac Bynum. Those two runs were the only ones by Homer.
In game 3, Homer defeated Palmer 12-9 on May 24. Nahoa Jette was the winning pitcher giving up five runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout. Zach Haning got the save giving up three runs on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Homer took the lead in the first inning, fell behind in the third inning, came storming back in the fourth inning with six runs and held on to win 12-9.
In the final game on May 24, Homer fell to Kenai 19-9. The game was called in the bottom of the sixth inning on the mercy rule. Homer ran out of gas in this final game, giving up too many walks and making several errors on defense.
Despite the final loss, Homer had a fine season this year, with many different players contributing whether through pitching, defense, batting and base running. Several Homer players were recognized in the Northern Lights Conference awards:
South Division MVP — Brandon Mahle, Kodiak.
Good sport team — Zane Mileur, Colony; Derek Johnson, Homer; Devan Elson, Houston; Josh Liedes, Kenai; Sam Kirchenslauger, Kodiak; Luke Heum, Palmer; Shayne Miller, Soldotna; Jake Grissom, Wasilla.
First team all-conference — Jonathon Boyer, Colony; Jacob Butcher, Colony; Ben Ross, Colony; Tommy Bowe, Homer; Jayden Sears, Houston; Dallas Pierren, Kenai; Hector Rivera, Kenai; Austin Frick, Kodiak; Brandon Mahle, Kodiak; Adam Christiansen, Palmer; Luke Heun, Palmer; Tyler Fritz, Soldotna.
Second team all-conference — Dalton McHugill, Colony; James M. McJimsey, Colony; Matt Palmer, Colony; Logan Sanders, Colony; Willie Deaver, Homer; Zach Haning, Homer; Brian Rowe, Homer; Devan Elson, Houston; Mitch Ruta, Houston; Miles Jones, Kenai; Jake Arnold, Kodiak; Cameron Christiansen, Palmer; Shayne Miller, Soldotna; Mitchell Chauvin, Wasilla; Tyler Hansen, Wasilla.
