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Keystone Intermediates Keystone win State Championship with 14-4 win over West Side

(TIM WEIGHT/FOR THE EXPRESS) Keystone’s Connor Foltz is greeted at home plate by teammates after smacking a grand slam in Saturday’s Intermediate State Championship game. Keystone won the game and the title, 14-4.

BY KENNY VARNER

For The Express

BEECH CREEK – The boys are Long Island bound.

Despite giving up three runs early to West Side, the Keystone Intermediates’s bats exploded for 14 runs as it defeated the visitors, 14-4, in five innings.

With the win the “Boys in Blue” captured the Intermediate State Championship Saturday at Beech Creek.

“This was a total-team effort from top to bottom. From the kids on the bench to the starters they do the job they are asked to do and get the job done,” said Keystone manager Scott Fravel. “This is what makes coaching this team fun.”

Keystone hurler Brady Myers went the distance for the win, giving up three runs, nine hits and striking out eight.

“Brady has pitched in multiple big games for us. Today he didn’t have his best stuff but he still did a very nice job,” Fravel added.

Offensively, Conner Foltz carried the big bat going 3-for-4 with seven RBIs and a grand slam.

Leadoff hitter, Kevin Grenninger, went 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

Teammate Nate Wian also went 3-for-4 and scored three runs.

Elek Fravel had one hit on the night but he made it count, blasting a three-run home run over the left field fence.

Rounding out the multiple hitters was Dom Slota who went 2-for-2 with an RBI.

In total, Keystone pounded out 13 hits in all en route to the victory.

Taking the loss for West Side was Nick Prince who went three innings, giving up six runs and six hits.

The game was scoreless through the first two innings but West Side took the early advantage in the third.

Ethan Franks singled to left to start off.

Landon Culp followed with a single to left of his own, setting the stage for Tristan Lander. Lander hit a three-run shot over the centerfield fence, giving West Side the early 3-0 lead.

But the lead would be temporary as Keystone came battling back in the bottom of the inning, posting six runs to take back the momentum.

Thomas Spraque hit a soft single into left field.

Grenninger followed with a hit to left as well.

Like the two hitters before him, Nate Wian loaded the bases with a third consecutive hit to left field.

With one swing of the bat, Foltz blasted a long shot that easily cleared the fence for the grand slam round tripper.

Keystone added two more to add to the lead.

With one out, Devin Snook walked and then Spraque plastered an RBI single, making it 5-3.

From there, Myers settled in and sent West Side down in the fourth.

In the bottom of the inning, Keystone continued to grind out the runs. Highlighting the inning was Fravel with the 3-run home run, making it a 10-3 contest.

West side manufactured a run in the fifth, cutting it to 10-4.

The home team ended West Side’s season as it rolled to another four run inning to 10-run West Side and capture the Intermediate State Championship.

With the win the journey continues as Keystone will travel to Long Island next week to compete in the Eastern Regionals.

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