While Keystone was excited and proud for making it happen and pulling off the three-peat, they’re thinking bigger moving into this week. In its previous two summer stints, Keystone’s closing stop was the state tournament. The hope is that they can surpass that trend in 2025.

“My expectation is we’re gonna win states,” said Keystone manager Matt McDermott following Tuesday’s win. “That’s what we preach to the kids. We take it one game at a time and that’s the goal. To come out and win states.”

Although Keystone fell short of regionals in 2023 and 2024, it still managed to cement itself as a strong contender within each bracket, posting a 2-2 record in both while opening with a win to advance to winner’s semis.

In 2024, it took things one step further on the winner’s side, winning two straight to get two wins away from winning it all. Against eight of the best Little League teams in the state, that experience could go a long way when it comes to building on that previous success.

MATT PATTON/For The Express Keystone players talk to a coach during a Section 3 playoff game last week against Selinsgrove.

“They kind of know what to expect,” said McDermott on the team. “It’s going to be a different location, different field but they’ve been through it before. Obviously, staying away from home for a week, that’s a big one, and they’re used to that.”

The tournament begins on Monday in Fair Chance and while it features a lot of teams Keystone hasn’t faced before, the team’s run begins with a familiar foe.

In 2023, Keystone suffered its first ever summer defeat in a heartbreaker against Section 8 champ Morrisville, falling one run short of a game-tying rally. Now, it has a chance at avenging that loss, as the teams face off on Monday at 4 p.m.

With many games being played since then, that previous loss doesn’t necessarily feed Monday’s strategy. For McDermott, the key to winning there and making a run to a championship is just a matter of the team continuing to do what it’s been doing while building on where it can improve.

“Our pitchers just need to continue doing their job and if we keep hitting the ball, hopefully they’ll start finding more holes,” said McDermott. “We’re hitting the ball; we’re just hitting it right at people. So, hopefully that turns around.”

MATT PATTON/For The Express A Keystone player slides home as Selinsgrove tries to make a play during a Section 3 game last week. Keystone will play its first game at the state tournament today in Fairchance.

Win or lose on Monday, Keystone would play again on Tuesday, facing either the winner or loser of Section 2 champ Hermitage and Section 7 champ Glenmoore. Following Tuesday’s games, consolation quarters are on Wednesday alongside the winner’s final, the consolation final is on Friday and the championship final is Saturday, with an if game set for Sunday if the winner’s side team loses.

POINTS OF EMPHASIS

When it comes to its three-game sectional span, most of the strengths Keystone displayed came on the defensive end. As mentioned in a previous article, its pitching and field served as the driving forces on its way to a championship, with the team surrendering just five combined runs (one through innings 2-6) and even posting a shutout to make it to the final.

But even with that success, each game was closer than the team would’ve liked, a product of issues on the offensive end.

Though it put up a combined 20 hits throughout the tournament (16 through the first two games), getting multiple runners on base in its last 12 innings, runs were at a premium, as it struggled with runners on base. Ultimately, it was forced to make up deficits in two games as a result, and bounce backs of that regard become much more difficult at this stage.

MATT PATTON/For The Express Hunter Kisko of Keystone reacts after reaching base during a Section 3 game against Selinsgrove. Keystone plays in states today.

“Everybody wants to just drive in those runs so they put added pressure on themselves instead of just going up there and doing what they know how to do,” said McDermott.

On the defensive end, things could get interesting when it comes to strategy.

If Keystone hopes to win a state championship, it’ll have to endure more games than its last two tournaments, meaning it must make the most of its pitching, more so than before. Apart from the three that led the charge through sectionals (Adam Meyer, Gio Cej and Carter Leone), expect to see players such as Dylan McDermott and Brooks Warner man the mound, as well as others.

“Even if you win your first three games, you’re playing three days straight,” said McDermott when discussing pitching. “We’re going to go in with a plan, but that plan can very easily deviate based on the situation.”

Outside of that, the main focus through practice leading up to the tournament has been continuing to keep it fun. The hope is that the players will go into Monday as relaxed as they can be so they can play as well as they can.

MATT PATTON/For The Express Keystone’s players listen to their coach during a game vs. Selinsgrove at sectionals this past week. Keystone plays in Fairchance at states beginning this afternoon.

“The kids have been practicing hard. We’ve been practicing, trying to do fundraising. The community supports these kids, and all the donations are very much appreciated,” said McDermott. “We represent the community at this point, so hopefully, we can represent them well.”