Homer Baseball pulls off another unbelievable comeback, this time to win State Championship

By Dayten Van Ostrand

The Homer team celebrates after the winning run. (Photo courtesy of Willem Hakala)

Things weren’t looking good. The Homer baseball team had pulled off two big comebacks to make it to the state championship finals last weekend, but now they were in trouble again. It was the last inning and Petersburg was ahead 5-0. 

But Homer rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. And one inning later, Homer scored on a bases-loaded suicide squeeze bunt to triumph 6-5 and bring home the first-ever state championship for Mariner baseball. 

Saturday’s win in Kenai was even more remarkable considering that poor field conditions at Homer High meant the Mariners went the whole spring season without playing a home game and rarely getting out of the gym for practices. 

To qualify for the state tournament, Homer had to come back from a seven-run deficit to beat Kenai 11-10 in extra innings two weeks ago. On Friday, they defeated Monroe Catholic 8-5 – coming back from a 5-0 deficit – to move on to the state championship game against Petersburg.

Petersburg held Homer scoreless for most of the game, building up a 5-0 lead by the bottom of the seventh.

But that inning brought a new life for the Mariners, who plated five runs on three hits to turn the game around. Clyde Clemens started the rally with a hit that brought a runner home. A defensive error brought home another run. Evan Pietsch followed with a run-scoring single, while Andrew Marley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run. Another error by the defense allowed the fifth run of the inning to cross the plate.

With the game tied, Homer relief pitcher Haven Geysbeek shut down Petersburg in the top of the eighth and then the Mariners walked it off in dramatic fashion. 

Clemens walked and was sacrificed to third. With one out, Petersburg intentionally loaded the bases, hoping to force an out at home plate. Clemens got the coaching signal to steal home. As he barreled down the baseline, Evan Peitsch laid down a sacrifice bunt, and Clemens was safe with the winning run.

Evan Peitsch putting on the winning plaque. (Photo courtesy of Willem Hakala)

“If you would have told me we came back down by five runs both games at state I wouldn’t have believed you. These boys never gave up. I couldn’t be more proud of them. Homer has had some very good baseball teams so it’s a huge relief to finally bring home the first ever state title,” said coach Tyler Krekling after the game.

Clemens was Homer’s starting pitcher. He gave up four hits and four runs over five innings. He also struck out six and walked seven. Geysbeek came in as relief for three innings. He only gave up one hit and one run while striking out three.

Evan Pietsch led the team with two runs batted in. He went two-for-four on the day.

As a team there were seven walks for the game. Jayden Sims and Clyde Clemens led the team with two free walks each. Five bases were stolen with Cohen Boyd leading the team with two.

“Homer has had some very good baseball teams so it feels good to finally get over the hump and win a state title,” said Coach Krekling. “I couldn’t be more proud of the boys and the adversity they had to go through this season.”

Clyde Clemens pitching off the mound. (Photo courtesy of Willem Hakala)