With big inning, Stars shoot to win over Moose

SOLDOTNA — The Soldotna Stars used a solid effort on the mound from Beau Sisson and a seven-run second inning to top Palmer 10-3 in conference play in Soldotna on Friday.

Sisson pitched five innings, yielding four hits and two runs, only one of which was earned. He had six strikeouts and did not walk a batter.

“The strike zone was small so I had to hit my mark,” Sisson said. “I was just trying to get ground balls.”

Soldotna head coach Robb Quelland said keeping the ball down in the zone is key for Sisson.

“Beau came out phenomenal,” Quelland said. “He’s one of the best, if not the best, control pitchers on our team. His only problems comes when he leaves the ball up.”

The Moose struck for two runs and three hits in the top of the first inning, with AJ Corbin knocking in Tommy Brown and Tim Rockey singling home Corbin. After that, Sisson gave up just one more hit.

Sisson, who would finish 2-for-4, helped eat into the gap in the bottom of the first, when he singled to score Jake Darrow.

Then came the decisive second inning. Steven Steger, who finished 2-for-4, singled to score Jordan Brown, who finished 2-for-4, and Nick Pokryfki. Brown, batting for the second time in the inning, singled to score Stan Westerman and Beau Sisson.

Palmer gave Soldotna plenty of help in the inning, as Elson, Braden Price and Darrow scored on a passed ball, error and balk, respectively.

“That was the telltale sign of our season,” said Palmer coach Dave Combs. “They can’t seem to put it all together. They’ll play really well, then they’ll lose focus.”

Palmer hurler Isaac Courson ended up pitching six innings and giving up six earned runs and eight hits. He walked three and struck out seven.

Soldotna picked up its final two runs of the game in the fifth, when Price singled to score Steger, then scored on a passed ball.

The Stars were aggressive on the base paths all day, stealing seven bases.

“Our aggressive base running was a plus,” Quelland said. “We have four kids that have the green light. We had a lot of self-made runs.”

The coach also was thrilled with his team’s defense, which committed just three errors even though Steger and Pokryfki were playing out-of-position in the infield. DJ Stilchen also came through in relief, allowing two hits and an earned run in two innings of work. He walked two and struck out two.

Palmer’s run off Stilchen came in the sixth, when Brown walked and scored on a single by Rockey, who finished 2-for-3.

Combs said after the game that Dan Schlott and Brown gave the team good games and the plate and in the field.

Homer 7, Palmer 3

HOMER — The Homer Mariners qualified for the state tournament with a 7-3 win over Palmer in Homer on Saturday.

Dan Schlott scored two of Palmer’s three runs in the loss. Greg Prickett also scored during a two-run seventh for PHS.

Jeff Helminiak is the sports editor for the Peninsula Clarion in Soldotna.