Keystone Blue Finishes Strong Edging Montour 8-4 (Video Report)

AdminJuly 14, 2015

2 minutes read

Keystone Claims District 12 9-10 Title

LOYALSOCK TOWNSHIP – Although Keystone Blue had their way with Montoursville at their last meeting on July 10 … Montour had a different idea for the District 12 9-10 championship game.

Keystone opened up the game going out in order, 1-2-3, then Montour jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning taking advantage of a couple of close calls with some savvy base running.

Unswayed in their effort, Keystone quickly responded with two runs of their own in the second inning to knot the score at 2-2 after two full innings.

Montoursville began the the third inning with a solo home run of their own to take back the lead at 3-2.

In the fifth inning, looking for a spark, Keystone found just that from their lead off hitter, Luke Simcox who stroked a solid two-run homer over the centerfield fence to finally give Keystone the lead at 4-3.

Then in customary fashion for the night, Montoursville responded to score another run in the bottom of the fifth to once again level the scoreboard at 4-4.

Then with two outs in the top of the sixth, Keystone strung together four hits and a walk to plate four more runs to take a 8-4 lead with three outs to go.

Bralen Corter had gone nearly the distance on the mound for Keystone and kept the pace even, it was now up to Matt Conklin to close out the game and seal the win, and that he did.

After taking the first batter the distance with a full count, Conklin gave up the walk. Refusing to let that minor setback deter him, Conklin then proceeded to retire the side in order in only 10 pitches to preserve the victory. On the night, Corter and Conklin combined for 11 strikeouts.

Offensively, Simcox (home run, single), Levi Schlesinger (2 singles) and Gardner Fravel (single, triple) all went 2-for-2 at the plate. Courter and Brady Myers each contributed a single on the night. Fravel and Myers were instrumental coming off the bench late in the game, both contributing directly to the final surge by Keystone.