Keystone Intermediate's Hayden Hanley prepares to throw a ball during Thursday evening's open practice in Mill Hall. TIM WEIGHT/For The Express

MILL HALL– Keystone Intermediate Little League may have been met with a fire truck parade escort on Monday night after its two-and-a-half hour drive home following its 50/70 championship win on Monday, but Keystone is not exactly done celebrating. The 13-and-under program held an open practice fundraiser on Thursday evening as the team prepared for its regional opener on Saturday morning.

Keystone kicked off its practice by fielding ground balls in the infield and making fly ball catches in the outfield as coaches instructed and music played in the background along with parents encouraging players. After the first round of catching and hitting, players were introduced and Keystone took the field for some more practice before it integrated its eight-and-under team into the practice, guiding and encouraging them to make plays as well.

It was an evening filled with baseball, food, smiles, laughter and dunk tanks ahead of Keystone Intermediate’s big game on Saturday. A tradition to invite the community out to celebrate and support how far Keystone has come.

“It was passed down to us. We have always had a great tradition here at Keystone that just keeps coming and we just keep trying to do everything we can to give back,” Keystone coach Cole Hanley said during the event on Thursday evening. “We appreciate the parents and kids helping to support us for our trip to Delaware.”

Keystone plays a tough first round game on Saturday morning when it faces Snug Harbor Little League, a team based out of Staten Island, New York, at 9am in Dover, Delaware. Snug Harbor– who won two consecutive sudden-death games to reach the Eastern Regional tournament– won the first game 1-0 in nine innings on their way to a championship victory in the second game.

A member of Keystone's team gets dunked in the dunk tank at Keystone's open practice on Thursday evening in Mill Hall. TIM WEIGHT/For The Express

Coach Hanley and Keystone know they may have their work cut out for them, but they are prepared. Their eight-point, come-from-behind state title win over West Side Little League in an 11-10 thriller has prepared it for what is to come. With a few days of practice in, Keystone expects to display similar grit and energy on the field.

“We did some work. We did a lot of work earlier this week, a little light (Thursday),” Hanley said when asked how prepared they are for Saturday’s game. “They’re focused, they are ready right where they need to be. We got a tough draw but we are gonna be ready to go at all times.”

One of the fun and positive outlooks of events like Thursday night’s community night is the fun and joy the kids established without having any true meaning. Kids fielded balls and made practice throws to mimic game-like situations without pressure on.

In a relaxed environment, that was coach Hanley and Keystone’s goal. Whether kids put pressure on themselves or receive it externally, those expectations heighten as the season carries on. Thursday’s setting gave Keystone the opportunity to hit cruise control before they shift into drive Saturday.

That has been the goal each year– to allow players, parents and coaches to relax ahead of what could be a special tournament for a team that has already had a magical run. Because when the players sit back and play without thinking the coaches can coach and let them do the work.

Keystone Intermediate player Logan Bower throws a ball to the third baseman during Thursday evening's open practice in Mill Hall. TIM WEIGHT/For The Express

“They have got a lot of pressure on them already without putting anything on and we try to stay relaxed and calm with them. They’re gamers, man, they are ready to play,” coach Hanley explained. “It’s on them. I can’t play for them, I just have to put them into a position to play.”

Coach Hanley and Keystone have put in a good deal of work to get Keystone where they are. As the intermediate team makes its trip southeast near the water to make a bid for the Intermediate World Series in California, the memories and the experiences the team builds keep it going on a daily basis. But seeing the kids raise banners and strive for the next big goal is also a big factor.

“You see true enjoyment when you see kids hold championship banners, it shows you why they love the game,” coach Hanley said. “And that makes these kids humble a little bit. I remember back when they were 8-years-old and they wanted to play baseball, what they worked for and we just like to keep that going.”

The final portion of Keystone Intermediate’s practice involved working with Keystone’s 8-year-old team. Although the pace was different in the two teams mixing and getting involved, the intermediate squad included the eight-and-under team well.

With coach Hanley mixing in some ground balls with fly balls, it not only gave both teams an opportunity to make plays, but more so for the intermediate team to guide the younger Keystone team. The 13-year-olds encouraged the young ones, who made some great plays along the way.

Keystone Intermediate coach Cole Hanley speaks to his team and the Keystone 8-and-under division during Thursday evening's open practice in Mill Hall. TIM WEIGHT/For The Express

The intermediate team was once in those shoes, trying to pick up the pace and intensity of the game while looking up at the older group. So aside from how Keystone Intermediate does in Dover this weekend, that lesson of passing down youth baseball will be a positive for the program, even if that fruition is not seen for a couple of years down the line.

“It’s funny because half of these kids were those 8-year-olds,” said coach Hanley. “They have come a long way. When 8-year-olds see that, now they (the 13-year-olds) see that too and it is something crazy. It’s something fun, something exciting for the community.”