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Keystone faces rain delay against Delaware, then comes away with 9-5 victory

By BRETT R. CROSSLEY

bcrossley@lockhaven.com

BRISTOL, Conn. – It was reminiscent of the last time Keystone was at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament in Bristol, Conn.

In the Championship game in 2011, Keystone benefited from a storm that just didn’t end.

In Thursday’s contest against Delaware, after taking a 5-1 lead, a storm found its way over the complex, forcing a delay which lasted two hours.

When the weather cleared up, Keystone kept its composure and added to its advantage, ultimately coming away with a 9-5 victory.

With the win, Keystone will take on Capital City later today at 7 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPN.

Keystone fell 7-2 to Capital City earlier in the tournament and will be looking for some revenge.

Keystone scored in each of the three innings played.

Aidan Major opened the game with a walk and scored when Cy Probst reached on a throwing error.

Major walked again in the second and scored when Cayde McCloskey chipped a ball into the outfield. Josh Keibler, who reached on a fielder’s choice, also scored. Kaden Falls also used a fielder’s choice to score McCloskey.

In the third, Ryan Pentz opened with a single and scored on a groundout from Aaron Miller.

After Delaware was able to secure the third out of the third inning a lightening delay went into effect, forcing fans to take cover in their cars.

The delay almost worked against Keystone this time around.

Immediately after taking the first Hunter Rauch connected with a single and Tyler Husbands followed with another single. The damage continued to grow when Chase Boyle cleared the bases with a shot over the centerfield fence.

McCloskey shook off the runs, fanning the final two batters of the inning to keep Keystone up 5-4.

Keystone quickly countered with a run in the top of the fourth.

After a strikeout to open the inning, Cy Probst and Kaden Falls hit back-to-back singles. Falls would eventually score on two wild pitches to put Keystone up, 6-4.

McCloskey, now with a two-run lead, retired Delaware in order in the bottom of the fourth.

After falling behind 3-0 to Delaware’s No. 9 hitter, McCloskey fought back to force a groundout to Aaron Miller at second. He then forced another ground and picked up up his seventh strikeout to end the inning.

It was McCloskey’s first clean inning of the game and it couldn’t have come at a bigger moment for Keystone.

Despite the effort from McCloskey, Hunter Rauch was able to get through the fifth without giving up a run, as well.

Ryan Thompson was hit on the hand to open the inning and Aaron Miller hit into a 4-6 fielder’s choice. Other than that it was all Rauch, who earned two more strikeouts to end the inning.

Probst was called on to pitch in the fifth inning and opened with eight consecutive strikes for Keystone.

Probst only needed 14 pitches to get through the inning with Keystone’s 6-4 advantage still intact.

Keystone added two more runs after a double from Cayde McCloskey opened the sixth inning and Kaden Falls followed with a two-run home run.

Keystone added another run when Nate Helms went to first on a called third strike. The play allowed Probst to score from third.

Delaware didn’t go quietly into the night, loading the bases and scoring a run in the final inning.

Keystone Delaware

KEY 131 103-9 8 2

DEL 103 001-5 7 3

Cayde McCloskey, Cy Probst (5), Aidan Major (6) and Probst, Falls (3). Nick Cox, Hunter Rauch (4), Timothy Hitchcock (6), and Brian Sponaugle.

WP: McCloskey. LP: Cox.

Top Keystone hitters: Cayde McCloskey 2-4, 2B, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Kaden Falls 2-4, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Cy Probst 3-4, run; Aaron Miller 1-3, RBI.

Next: Keystone vs. Capital City at Bristol, today, at 7 p.m.

Keystone faces rain delay against Delaware, then comes away with 9-5 victory

By BRETT R. CROSSLEY

bcrossley@lockhaven.com

BRISTOL, Conn. – It was reminiscent of the last time Keystone was at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tournament in Bristol, Conn.

In the Championship game in 2011, Keystone benefited from a storm that just didn’t end.

In Thursday’s contest against Delaware, after taking a 5-1 lead, a storm found its way over the complex, forcing a delay which lasted two hours.

When the weather cleared up, Keystone kept its composure and added to its advantage, ultimately coming away with a 9-5 victory.

For the full story, see tomorrow’s print edition of The Express.

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