Keystone Downs Loyalsock 4-0

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Rematch with Montoursville Up Next

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT – The long ball was not present Tuesday evening, but the Keystone Little League Major team brought its gloves and its pitchers to a loser’s bracket contest against Loyalsock.

And pitching and defense proved to be the difference as the Keystone team earned a 4-0 win over ‘Sock, advancing to Wednesday’s loser’s bracket final to be played at the Newberry field. Montoursville will be the opponent, the defending District 12 champions falling to Williamsport by a 7-3 score in the Tuesday evening winner’s bracket final.

For the third game in a row a variety of Keystone pitchers combined for a shutout. Against Loyalsock five pitchers shared the duties, combining on a 2-hitter with 13 strikeouts. Starter Rocco Stark picked up the win; he pitched into the second inning, followed by Zane Probst, Colton Wagner, Riley Houser and Cayde McCloskey. All stayed within the Little League pitch count allotment of 20 pitches per appearance, which means all five will be eligible to work as needed in the Wednesday game.

And they were backed again by great defense. Right fielder Trevor Adair snared an early bullet off the bat of Jacob Schurer and Houser made a great grab on a shot from ‘Sock’s Dominic Jennings. It was the third game in a row Keystone played errorless ball.

Two Loyalsock pitchers held Keystone to five hits but the Clinton County squad was able to manufacture four runs. The first came in the bottom of the first when Adair singled and ultimately circled the bases on passed balls.

Keystone put up two more in the third. Wagner reached base on an infield error and Adair doubled. Peyton Johnson worked a walk and Wagner scored on a groundout from Probst; the second run of the inning came in on a bases-loaded walk to McCloskey. The final run came in the fourth after Nick Long singled. Wagner replaced him on first on a fielder’s choice and ultimately scored on a passed ball.

Adair ended with a single and double and two runs scored and Stark had two singles, Long contributing one single.

The Wednesday game with Montour will be a rematch. The Lycoming County team defeated Keystone by a 6-0 score last Thursday. Wednesday’s winner will meet Williamsport Friday at 6 p.m. at Little League’s Volunteer Stadium for the district championship. Wednesday’s winner would have to defeat Williamsport both Friday and Saturday to claim the crown and the right to move onto the sectional tourney.