Keystone Advances to State Finals with 7-6 Win over Shaler

Toner’s Walk-Off Single Seals the Victory

SUNBURY – The Keystone Intermediate (50/70) All-Stars took the next step to the state championship with a 7-6 win over Shaler punctuated by a walk-off single from Gavin Toner in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Keystone and Shaler mirrored each others efforts in the first three innings with neither team scoring in the first, then each team scoring 3 runs in the second, followed by both teams scoreless in the third.

With the game knotted at 3-all heading into the fourth inning Shaler added another run to the tally and had a 4-3 lead. Both teams were scoreless in the fifth inning, Then Shaler plated two more runs in the top of the sixth. Keystone answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth, though still trailing 6-4.

Then in the top of the seventh, the Keystone defense stiffened and kept Shaler from doing anymore damage.

Then in the Keystone tradition, the boys in blue kept on chipping away in a workman like fashion never doubting they could prevail.

With one out on the board, Peyton Johnson smashed and Landyn Carson had back-to-back triples to the score at 6-5 in favor of Shaler. Then it was a little more music from the hit parade as Zane Probst hit his second single of the day up the middle to tie the score at 6-all followed by Nick Long with short fly ball that drops in left center then Gavin Toner flips one over the shortstop’s head to score Probst for the win.

Landyn Carson went a complete game, 7 innings on the mound for the win against a very sound hitting team. Carson struck out four and gave up no walks.

Next, Keystone will play in the state championship game on Monday, July 18, 2016 against an opponent to be determined. If Keystone should lose that game, the ‘if’ would follow directly after.

Currently, Shik-Acorn is playing Taney with the winner meeting Shaler in the loser’s bracket final. the winner of that contest will be Keystone’s opponent on Monday.