Keystone Intermediates in State Title Game Sunday

AdminJuly 12, 2014Last Updated: July 12, 2014

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Front row from left: Trevor Hanna, Austin Rager, Tanner Lavelle, Tanner Spangler and Brady Eck. Back row from left: Aaron Swartz, Troy Gardner, Dylan Beach, AJ Smith, Malik Houtz and Asher Corl. Zach Eck was unavailable for the photo. Photo provided.

ARCHBALD — The Keystone Intermediate Little League team continues to romp through the field in its first try at Little League’s new 13-year-old division.

Playing in the second annual Intermediate State Tournament at the Archbald Athletic Complex, the Keystoners are now 3-0 after a resounding 20-3 win over Neshaminy in the winners’ bracket final Friday evening.

A.J. Smith went the first four and two-thirds innings and Mahlik Houtz finished up the bottom of the fifth as the Keystoners made short work of their southeastern Pennsylvania opponents. The win put Keystone in the championship game Sunday at 1 p.m. against the loser bracket survivor to be determined Saturday.

The Keystone squad had a ton of hits, including another perfect plate performance from Houtz who went 3-for-3; he is now 12-for-12 in three games. Other contributors included: two homeruns from Austin Rager; three hits including a homerun from Asher Corl; two hits from Troy Gardner; two doubles from Tanner LaVelle; a grandslam from Smith; and two hits from Trevor Hanna.

Friday’s win followed earlier conquests of Kennett Square by a 28-0 score and 30-3 over Valley Little League.

Should Keystone be upset at 1 p.m. Sunday, a winner take-all-game would follow at 4 p.m. The state champion will move on to the Middle Atlantic tournament on Long Island later in July.