Keystone Juniors take Regional Opener 7-3

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ-The Keystone Junior baseball team, fresh of their Pennsylvania State Title Championship last week in Dubois, got its first win of the regional tournament Friday night with a 7-3 victory over Freehold Township- the host team which was coming off a 6-1 victory Thursday over Maine (Bronco Little League).

Keystone scored four in the second before lightning flashed across the August skies, causing a huge delay. Freehold Township tried to get something started in the bottom of the second scoring one. Neither team scored in third or fourth. Freehold Township added two in the fifth narrowing the lead to 4-3 Keystone. However, Keystone would answer in the final two innings with some insurance runs for the 7-3 victory.

Keystone got its win with seven runs and three errors. Freehold Township had five hits and three errors.

Blake Walker went 2-2 at plate leading Keystone in hits. Aiden Jones had a double. Singles came from Cole Cooper, Watt Probst, Hayes Miller, Austin Andrus. Cooper, Miller and Andrus each had an RBI.

Manager Steve Shade didn’t hesitate to rotate his pitchers, utilizing six – Jones, Frank, Walker, Probst and Darius Shade. Combined they would allow three runs on five hits while striking out nine. Each hurler would go approximately one inning – keeping them fresh. The exception was Probst who worked two frames. 

Freehold Township used three pitchers on the night. Kiely was the starter and toes the mound for five innings. Bain and Lynch closed out the game. Combined, they allowed seven runs on 7 hits. They struck out three with the defense committing four errors.

Keystone will have Saturday off to prepare for a game against Maryland on Sunday. The game is set at 1pm. Maryland (Berlin Little League) came off a 5-2 win over New Jersey Friday.

K 0 4 0 0 0 1 2 = 7-7-3

F 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 = 3-5-3