Keystone 9-11 All-Stars Capture Section 3 Crown for Berth at States

AdminJuly 23, 2017

2 minutes read

BEECH CREEK – Keystone used a balanced offense with contributions coming up and down the lineup to earn an 11-2 win over a very solid Selinsgrove team.

Selinsgrove qualified for the final game by winning a 17-14 marathon game that began at 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon but was not completed until 9 p.m. in the evening due to heavy rainfall in the area.

It was decided to get an early start on Sunday for the final the the first pitch going down at 10 a.m. Mother Nature had different plans and dumped considerable precipitation on the field shortly before the game was to begin.

The ground crew worked tirelessly and had the field playable by 11:30 a.m.

Keystone lost the coin toss once again and was the visiting team for the game and took little time to get the bats going.

Nate Wian pounded out a base hit and later, Elek Fravel smacked a home run over the fence for a Keystone 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first Selinsgrove had base hits from Josh Domeracki and Mark Pastore with a walk for Tucker Teats sandwiched in between to plate a run and narrow the Keystone lead to 2-1 after one inning of play.

Selinsgrove put up another run to tie the game at 2-2 when Andrew Gephart went yard for a solo homer in the bottom of the third inning.

Then in the top of the fourth inning, Keystone jumped out in front scoring 5 more runs. Gavin Burnell had a double then walks for Brady Myers and Cayden Culvey. With the bases loaded, Kevin Grenninger hit into a fielder’s choice forcing out Burnell at home. Then with bases still loaded, Gardner Fravel worked a walk to force in a run to score Myers. Then Nathan Wian belted out a screaming line drive to right field to plate Culvey and Grenninger. Next, Connor Foltz sent a solid line drive to left field to score Fravel, giving Keystone a 7-2 lead.

Keystone added three more runs in the fifth inning resulting from Gavin Burnell reaching first on a Selinsgrove error followed by a 2-run dinger to center field from Wyatt Kramer. Myers would pound out a base hit and then advance to second on a fielder’s choice when Culvey put the ball in play. Then with 2 outs, Gardner Fravel smacked a line drive to center field for a double scoring Myers and a 10-2 Keystone lead.

Keystone would add one more run in the sixth inning when Connor Foltz smashed out a solo homer sending the ball over the left field fence to his mother and aunt, giving Keystone their final victory of 11-2.

On the mound for Selinsgrove, Domeracki had the start, allowing 8 hits, four walks and 1 strikeout in four innings of work. Teats came in for the final 2 innings yielding 3 hits and 1 walk.

For Keystone, Gardner Fravel threw 5 innings giving up 5 hits 3 walks and recorded 5 strikeouts. Nate Wian closed out the last inning for Keystone giving up just one hit.

With the win, Keystone qualifies for the Pennsylvania State Championship host by Lehigh Little League in Bethlehem, PA July 20-Aug. 3. Keystone will face the Section 8 champion at 1 p.m. on July 28.