Keystone takes Section 3 Crown 8-0 over South Columbia

AdminJuly 20, 2016

2 minutes read

Win Earns Trip to States

SAYRE — It took a year but tonight the Keystone Little League Major team exacted revenge against their South Columbia opponents.

It was a year ago at the 10-11 tournament in Wellsboro that South Columbia came from behind and pulled out a last inning win for the Section 3 crown.

But one year later it was all Keystone in the 11-12 (Major) championship game in Sayre, the boys in blue scoring early and often on the way to an 8-0 win over South Columbia. The victory moves Keystone, now 8-0, to the state Little League tournament starting Sunday night in Rostraver Township in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Cy Probst was handed the ball for the championship game and he responded with 5 2/3 innings of outstanding 2-hit work, striking out 10 and walking 1. As his pitch count approached 65, he was pulled with two outs in the sixth inning so he will be eligible to pitch in the first game at states. Kaden Falls came on in relief and struck out the final SC batter, sending the large contingent of Keystone fans into celebration.

The Keystone pitchers were backed by perfect defense and a clutch offense. As in their 9-2 win over South Columbia on Sunday, Keystone jumped out early, scoring three first inning runs. Aiden Major walked to start the bottom of the first and scored on an infield error off a groundball from Probst. With Probst aboard Brady Bendik unloaded a 2-run homer and Keystone would have all the runs it would need.

Keystone added two more in the second on a single from Aaron Miller followed by a Cayde McCloskey homerun and one more in the third on a Nash Welch pinch-hit homer. The final two runs came in the fifth: after a walk Ryan Thompson stroked a single, as did Miller. Major singled in the first run and with the bases loaded McCloskey drew an RBI walk, putting the score at 8-0.

Keystone spread around its eight hits over two South Columbia pitchers, Miller the only player with two singles. Blade Myers also added a single for the winners.

After presentation of the championship medals and the Section 3 banner and the team’s victory lap, head coach Ben Falls repeated what he said earlier about his team, that they “scrap and claw” every minute. He noted how well the group played together and said he was confident in the squad and starting pitcher Probst who he noted had good off-speed pitches working for him.

Keystone will meet the Section 2 champion from western Pennsylvania in its opener Sunday at 8 p.m. All Keystone major games will be aired on WBPZ and streamed on wsqvradio.com and therecord-online.