Strong Close Moves Keystone 9-11 All-Stars Past Selinsgrove, 11-9

AdminJuly 21, 2017

2 minutes read

BEECH CREEK – On paper the matchup for the 9-11 Section 3 winner’s bracket final looked to be very competitive. That evaluation was spot on with Keystone taking a 2 run lead in the top of the sixth inning and holding on for a 11-9 win over Selinsgrove.

That final inning would determine the outcome as the two teams battled each other to a 9-9 tie after 5 innings of play when in the top of the sixth, Keystone plated 2 runs for the lead and eventual win.

Gavin Burnell put the ball in play for Keystone in the last inning and reached first base safely on a Selinsgrove error. Wyatt Kramer followed with a sacrifice bunt to move Kramer to second base. Then Brady Myers sent a screaming line drive to right field for a triple to score Kramer. Then Cayden Culvey followed with a ground out that scored Myers on a fielder’s choice to put Keystone up 11-9.

Then Myers had to take to the mound and close out the game. Lots of pressure for a young pitcher in a tournament that will select a representative to the state championships … and an equal amount of pressure for the Selinsgrove players coming to bat.

Myers faced four batters, walking one and striking out three to end the game and preserve the win for Keystone.

Both tams battled in the early going on both sides of the ball with Nate Wian producing a 3-run home run and a double, while Elek Fravel pounded out a double and single for Keystone. Gardner Fravel, Connor Foltz, Gavin Burnell, Wyatt Kramer, Clayton Culvey and Kevin Grenninger all had base hits for Keystone.

For the Seals, Josh Domeracki, Tyler Ruhl and Mark Pastore all had doubles with Tucker Teats, Andrew Gephart and Caleb Geipel all pounding out base hits.

Ben Gearheart was the Seals starter going 4 1/3 innings giving up 9 hits, 3 walks and striking out 5 batters. Tucker Teats closed out the game, allowing only 1 hit for 1 2/3 innings of work.

For Keystone it was Grenninger at the start on the hill yielding 5 hits, 5 walks and 4 strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of work. Brady Myers came in for the final 2 2/3 innings and the save, allowed 1 hit 2 walks and struck out 8 Selinsgrove batters.

Selinsgrove will now drop into the lower bracket and face Pottsville tomorrow, Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 2 p.m. Pottsville defeated Tunkhannock 14-3 to stay alive in Section 3 play. With the loss Tunkhannock is eliminated from the tournament.

The winner of the Selinsgrove vs. Pottsville game will meet Keystone on Sunday, July 23 at 2 p.m. in the championship final. Should Keystone lose that game, the double elimination ‘if’ game will be played at 5:30 p.m. Sunday.