Keystone Intermediate All-Stars Drop Massachusetts, 8-1

COMMACK, NY – After a slow start, the Keystone Intermediate 50/70 All-Stars bunched up runs in the later innings to beat Easthampton LL, the Massachusetts state champion, 8-1.

For 3 innings neither team could plate a run, then Easthampton broke the seal in the top of the fourth inning to score 1 run.

Accepting the challenge, Keystone responded as they have done so often by scoring 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth.

It all began when Kade Falls led off with a walk followed by a single from Aiden Major with Falls moving to third base on the play. Then Brady Bendik stepped up to the plate and smashed the ball over the right field fence to clear the bases, scoring Falls and Major and himself to put Keystone up 3-1.

Then in the bottom of the fifth inning, Blade Myers pounded out a double to left field followed by a single to center field Cayde McCloskey, though, MCloskey ended up on second base and Myers on third on the resulting defensive throw. Next, Falls would then offer up a sac fly which enabled Myers to score and McCloskey to advance to third base. Then Major would bang out another base hit for an RBI as McCloskey scores. Bendik would send a line drive to center field for an RBI double to score Major, extending the Keystone lead to 6-1.

Keystone added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning with Nash Welch working a walk to start things off, then Aaron Miller, who had been struggled at the plate recently, found his mojo and cleared the fence in center field for a 2-run homer and the final 8-1 score.

As has been the case in this tournament, manager Ben Falls as spread the wealth on the mound to keep arms fresh and pitchers eligible. Today 6 Keystone hurlers took turns for the pitching duties to hold Easthampton to 1 run on four hits.

McCloskey worked the first 1 2/3 innings yielding 1 hit, striking out 3. Bendik was next for 1 1/3 innings with 1 walk and striking out 2. Falls was next for a full inning on the hill giving up 1 hit and 2 strikeouts. Ryan Thompson came in for an inning walking 2, striking out 1 batter. Major also worked 3 outs walking 1, striking out 2. Kayden Friese finished off the final three outs giving up 2 hits and fanning 2 batters in the process.

Next up for Keystone is a rematch with Freehold, NJ tomorrow, July 24 at 11 a.m. Freehold handed Keystone a 5-1 loss in the first round on July 22. The winner of the Keystone vs Freehold game will then play the host team, Commack North Little League at 2 p.m. tomorrow.