Keystone bounces back to nab Sectional crown; on to state tourney

POTTSVILLE, PA – Keystone 12 Little League manager Ben Falls still felt pretty good Friday night, this after his team had been trounced by an 8-1 count by Blue Mountain in the first of what proved to be two Section 3 championship games. Falls’ faith in his team was rewarded Saturday afternoon when Keystone bounced back, claiming a 13-1 five-inning win over Blue Mountain. It was a winner-take-all game and Keystone won big time this time.

The victory, behind a dominant performance from Hayes Donley on the mound and at bat, advanced Keystone to the eight-team Pennsylvania Major Little League tournament starting next Wednesday in Bradford.

Donley paced a 15-hit Keystone attack with a 4-for-4 game, including two doubles and two RBIs. On the mound he pitched a complete game 4-hitter, striking out five and walking one, giving up one unearned run. And his defense bounced back; after committing eight errors on Friday, they had but one miscue Saturday.

Keystone would score early and often Saturday after being shut down Friday. Jaiden McCloskey chipped in with a 3-for-4 game, two doubles, a single and four RBIs. Joey Miller had a homerun and three runs batted in and Kyle Everett had a double, a single and an RBI. Gabe Killinger had a triple and singles came from Mason Myers, Luke Nonemaker, Blake King and Ashton Falls, who also had an RBI.

Keystone, no stranger to the state playoffs in previous years, including in Bradford, will open play Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. against the Section 1 champion.

K 3 1 1 0 8 = 13-15-1

BM 0 0 1 0 0 = 1-4-2