Mariners trounce Kards in season’s last at-home game

Moments before their last at-home game of the season, the Homer High Mariners softball team and fans paid honor to the team’s four seniors: Brenna Evarts, Hailey Hughes, Shyanna Parr and Jordyn Haye.

Also getting a nod of appreciation were two of the Mariners’ biggest fans, Floyd and Gert Seekins. No matter what the sport, the Seekins can more often than not be found in the bleachers.

Then, with a light misty rain in the air and mud on the field, the Mariners got down to business, playing a close-out game against the Kenai Kardinals. The mercy rule brought the game to a finish after the top of the fourth inning, with the Mariners leading 27 and the Kardinals yet to make it across home plate.

That impressive win comes after last weekend’s games in Kodiak, with the Mariners winning one conference game and losing one. It was a 6-2 Homer victory on May 23, but the Bears claimed a 13-9 win the following day.

“We had a 9-2 lead in the second conference game and then fell apart for an inning,” said Head Coach Bill Bell. “The concentration was missing. That was the difference.”

The junior varsity also traveled to Kodiak, faring a bit better than their varsity counterpoint.

“(They) played in between and did super,” said Bell. “They won both of their official games.”

The Mariners played SoHi at SoHi on Wednesday, and will continue to the state championship games in Anchorage, June 6-7.

“If we lose to Soldotna then we will end at 5-3 and they could potentially end up at 6-2 and would have a tie with Kodiak,” said Coach Bell earlier this week.

Looking ahead at games still to be played before the championship, Bell said, “Soldotna has three games to go, one with us and two with Skyview. If Skyview were to win both of their games and we lost to Soldotna, then SoHi would be 4-4 and Skyview could be tied with us so would have to go to several layers of tie breaker. If we beat SoHi, we are in.”

Scores for the Wednesday game with SoHi were not available by press time. Follow the team online at marinerssoftball.net.