Early runs key Kenai baseball victory over Palmer

PALMER — Friday afternoon, AJ Hull was at Palmer High School competing in the preliminary round of the Region III track and field championships. Hull won the long jump and posted one of the top times in the boys’ 100-meter dash.

Later that day, the senior traded his track spikes for a baseball glove and cleats. But even though Hull was on the diamond, in the third inning it was like the Kenai Central senior had not left the track.

Hull sprinted to the plate and scored from second base on a Palmer error after a passed ball during a 5-3 win over the Moose at Palmer Senior Field.

Hull scored the second run after a ball bounced by the plate and to the backstop. Ethan Oliver also scored on the play. Coaches from both dugouts felt that was a key part of Kenai’s victory.

“That was the winning margin,” Kenai assistant Gary Oliver said. “Once again, we capitalized on the other team’s mistakes.”

Palmer head coach Dave Combs agreed the play was key.

“Little plays like that in a tight ballgame are the difference,” Combs said.

Ethan Oliver scored and drove in a pair of runs, and Hull scored twice during the Kenai victory. The Kards built a 5-1 lead in the game, but the Moose tried to rally.

Palmer infielder Kevin Christopher, who was 5 for 5 in a loss to Soldotna on Thursday, drove in a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to close the gap.

With one out, Elias Stratton and David Media recorded back-to-back singles, and Gus Topp drew a walk to load the bases. With the bases loaded, Christopher belted a ball into centerfield.

Palmer threatened in the bottom of the seventh. Gus singled to put a runner on. But with the tying run at the plate, Palmer hit into a game-ending double play.

“It was nice to turn that double play and get out of that jam,” Oliver said.

After Kenai took the 2-0 lead, Stratton singled and scored on an error for the Moose in the bottom of the third to cut the Kards’ lead in half. Kenai added to its advantage in the fifth.

Justin Wisnewski led off the inning with a single and Hector Rivera followed with a walk. Ethan Oliver cleared the bases with a two-run single to centerfield. Hull reached on an error and scored later in the inning to give Kenai the 5-1 advantage.

Robert Cockrell started the game for the Kards on the mound and earned the win. Cockrell was also 3 for 4 at the plate. Myles Jones pitched the final three innings.

Palmer junior Luke Heun was strong on the mound again for the Moose.

“My pitching staff has done great,” Combs said.

Media was 2 for 3 with a run to lead Palmer. Stratton collected a pair of singles and two runs.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.