TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Keystone’s Carter Leone pitches against South Williamsport during Tuesday’s District 12 9-11 all-star game. Keystone won, 8-3, to advance to the District 12 championship game on Saturday at noon.

BEECH CREEK– Entering Tuesday afternoon, Keystone was well-aware of how tough games would get after its 10-run win in its last outing. Despite that, Keystone’s 9-11 team not only played up to par, but played well when it needed to step up. After going ahead by three runs in the second inning, visiting South Williamsport disrupted an early, comfortable lead by answering with three runs in the third.

That did not faze Keystone as it went on to score the final five runs of the game to defeat South, 8-3, at Blaine Kunes Memorial Park, advancing to the District 12 championship.

Keystone will certainly have an even tougher test against its opponent that is soon to be determined, but for now it’s rolling into Saturday’s championship at Volunteer Stadium at noon with its heads held high, both understanding there is work to be done but also confident in what they have produced up to this point. Adam Meyer led Keystone with a perfect 3 for 3 evening with two RBIs and one run, Carter Leone went 2 for 2 with an RBI and scored three runs along with a double, Dylan McDermott 2 for 3, Rylan Bathurst 2 for 3 and Ryker Packech 2 for 3.

“I was proud to see them battle. The first game we won 10-0 and this game here we were up 3-0 and tied it up so they kept battling and that’s what we want to see out of them because it’s not going to be easy,” Keystone coach Jason Markle said after the win. “There are gonna be some dogfights.”

Five different Keystone players notched at least two hits as seven different players registered in the hits column on a 14-hit day to South’s eight. It was a solid performance at the plate but the win could not have been solidified without Keystone’s pitching unit. Meyer, who was the starter, pitched an inning with two strikes to set up McDermott as the relief.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express South Williamsport prepares to pitch as a Keystone runner looks on in Tuesday’s District 12 9-11 all-star game.

He stepped up big time and sent nine South batters down including five of the final seven. McDermott entered after South picked up momentum in the second inning with three runs and four hits but McDermott, who did not walk a single batter, came in to shut South down.

“It’s huge,” coach Markle said when asked about having versatile kids that can make plays in the infield or outfield but also stunt on the mound. “We’ve got a bunch of pitchers and like we told the kids, if one kid isn’t on but another kid is on we’re going to ride that kid so we’ve got a bunch we can choose from.”

After a hitless bottom of the first inning, Jacob Butler, Miles Gerber and Trey Engel hit three consecutive singles for South Williamsport and all scored runs. Butler scored on a bases-loaded walk and Connor Zook hit a two-run single to even the score at three runs apiece. Zook finished 2 for 3 with two RBIs, Aiden Jiminez 2 for 3, and Butler 2 for 3 with one run. Garber and Engel each had one hit and run apiece.

The second inning turned out to be a make-it-or-break-it moment for both teams with the score knotted. After South struck back to make it a game, Keystone brought more firepower behind McDermott, who tossed 86 pitches. South’s talented hitters made at least one hit in the next three innings but McDermott slowly calmed the storm as the game continued further.

McDermott left two South runners on base in the bottom of the third and fourth innings before leaving one on in the fifth inning. McDermott was fearless as South Williamsport batters continued to find base, but his bold pitching helped Keystone make strong hits at the plate, especially down the stretch to help seal the deal.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Keystone’s Ryker Packech swings against South Williamsport during Tuesday’s District 12 9-11 all-star tournament game. Keystone won, 8-3, to advance to Saturday’s title game.

South had its opportunities to turn the corner on Keystone and try to get ahead but McDermott kept his head on straight. South had four combined hits in innings 3-5 but McDermott and the defense did a nice job stranding those runners once they got on base. In the top half of those innings, Keystone turned its jets on. After its first inning display, Keystone only went scoreless and hitless in the top of the fourth. Keystone showed resilience in the top of the third by scoring two runs on three hits as Leone, McDermott and Meyer all captured hits to threaten South to score more.

With a close game still in sight with a two-run lead in the top of the fifth inning, Leone roped a double, McDermott followed with a two-out RBI single after Leone moved up a base on a past ball and Meyer then followed with an RBI double of his own to get three runs. When it looked as if South had Keystone contained to get out of a jam, Keystone kept the foot on the gas.

Keystone even threatened with two hits, one by Packech and one from Kisko that kept Keystone’s hopes high.

“They’re just feeding off each other and are in the dugout cheering. Any one of our kids from top to bottom are able to get the train rolling,” coach Markle said. “They just kept battling, that’s what we’ve been preaching to them for a while,” coach Markle added. “We have to stick together as a team.”

Keystone has solid momentum along with a willingness to improve heading into Saturday’s championship game. And with a few extra days in between to practice and sharpen the tools for the big game, Keystone has a good foundation of the many facets of the game.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express A South Williamsport player tries to beat the throw during Tuesday's game against Keystone.

Pitching will be crucial to get Keystone off the ground, but it has shown that once the bats get rolling, the team’s speed and confidence in one another is enough to take down teams in the opposing dugout.

“Hopefully we can do the same thing we keep doing,” coach Markle said with a chuckle. “We have to keep hitting the ball and find out which one of our pitchers is on and just ride.”

Keystone 8, South Williamsport 3.

KEY 212 030-8 14 1

SOU 030 000-2 8 0

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express A Keystone player slides into second during Tuesday's District 12 9-11 all-star game.

Adam Meyer, Dylan McDermott, Carter Leon. Easton Yetter, Miles Gerber. W: McDermott. L: Yetter. SV: Carter Leon. 2B: Adam Meyer, Carter Leone. Top Keystone hitters: Carter Leone 2-2, RBI, 3R; Dylan McDermott 2-3, RBI, R; Adam Meyer 3-3, 2RBI, R; Rylin Bathurst 2-3, RBI; Stafford Ley 1-3, 2RBI; Ryker Packech 2-3; Hunter Kisko 2-3. Top South Williamsport hitters: Connor Zook 2-3, 2RBI; Aiden Jiminez 2-3; Jacob Butler 2-3, R; Miles Gerber 1-3, R; Trey Engel 1-3, R.

Next game: Keystone vs. TBA at Volunteer Stadium Saturday at noon.