Keystone Juniors Win Again cruising through Regionals; Drop Berlin LL 15-11

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP, NJ- Manager Steve Shade’s Keystone Junior team has been cruising through the winner’s bracket of Regionals going 2-0 so far in the tournament being held in New Jersey. Sunday, the team downed Berlin Little League, the Maryland State Champions, 15-11. Keystone got off to an early lead, never trailing but had to hold off a late rally by Maryland for the hard-earned victory. 

Berlin did not go away easily as they narrowed the margin to 13-11 with an inning to go. Keystone answered putting up two insurance runs in the seventh and shutting down Berlin for the 15-11 victory. Pitching, errors and walks proved to be costly for Berlin with 12 errors and 8 walks on the day.

Hayes Miller was the hitting star for Keystone collecting a double and single with 4RBI’s. Darius Shade and Watt Probst had two singles. Other singles came from Nolan Cross, Jared Bischof. Josh Ludow had a double. Combined the Keystone team had nine hits.

Manager Steve Shade, making sure his hurkers didn’t labor too long in the hot sun, rotated through his pitching depth, utilizing six: Aiden Jones, Austin Frank, Ludlow, Cross, Shade and Walker. Combined the team allowed 11 runs, 12 hits, while striking out seven and walking three. Jones picked up the win The defense committed six errors. The latter a problem that will need corrected for the next game.

Berlin utilized six pitchers as it tried to quiet the Keystone offense. Combined they surrendered 15 runs, on nine hits, eight walks and six strikeouts. Errors were costly for the Maryland team at 12. 

Keystone, playing well as a team, will be back in action on Monday in the winners’ bracket final. The game to begin at 10 AM against Canton Little League of Massachusetts. Canton has had a 6-2 Win over New York and a 9-4 win over New Hampshire.

K 4 0 0 8 1 0 2  = 15-9-3 

B 0 1 2 4 0 4 0 = 11-12-5