Their constant ability to put the ball in play paid off, as they exploded for a seven-run fifth inning, coupled with strong pitching, to take control of a close contest and overcome a strong defensive effort for South through four innings to win, 10-2.

“Madison Edwards controlled the game from the circle from the start. We left a few runners on base early that I thought could possibly come back to hurt us, but defensively, and with the way Madison was pitching, we kept them in check,” Keystone manager Chipp McCann said. “Hats off to South. They have a good team. It was a well-played game. They made some nice plays in the field and got some nice hits. At the end, I think us putting the ball in play and making things happen on the basepaths really put pressure on them. They made some mistakes, we were able to take advantage of them, and it worked out.”

South Williamsport got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Kloey Smith led off with a bunt single and was brought home two batters later on a single by Kinley Barrett. But Keystone was able to limit the damage to one and then got right to work in the bottom half of the inning.

Josey McCann led off with a single, and Blake Houser hit a double into left field to bring her home. Then, after a South error, Sienna Schneider laced a single through the right side to load the bases with no outs as they threatened for a big inning.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Keystone's Skye Welshans does a cartwheel as the team celebrates their win over South Williamsport in a Little League softball majors semifinal game on Wednesday at South Williamsport. Keystone won 10-2.

But South was able to limit the damage to just two after a fielder’s choice and three straight outs.

Edwards, who struck out ten for the second-straight contest, settled into the game in the second and third innings, retiring six of seven batters, all with strikeouts. And Keystone added another run in the bottom of the second when Houser drove in Skye Welshans with a single to put Keystone up 3-1 after two innings of play.

South Williamsport added a run of its own in the top of the fourth when Smith bunted and reached on an error and came home on a sacrifice groundout off the bat of Reanna German.

But Edwards was able to strand a runner at second base with one out with a strikeout and a groundball back to the circle. She started to command her off-speed pitches as the game went on, which was a huge key.

“I think she might have thrown one offspeed pitch, but we let her do her thing, and we’ll call that when we deem it necessary. If girls have fouled a couple balls off, or if we want to start a girl off differently,” McCann said. “She has really good control of her offspeed pitch, and she can throw it whenever she needs to. But as long as she’s throwing it by them most of the time, which she was doing tonight, we didn’t really rely on it too much, especially the first time through the lineup.”

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Keystone's Madison Edwards throws during a Little League softball majors semifinal game against South Williamsport on Wednesday at South Williamsport. Keystone won 10-2.

Keystone was able to break the game open in the bottom half of the fith inning. South Williamsport had made a multitude of fine defensive plays that had kept their deficit to a minimum. However, that defense broke down in the fith.

Four singles, coupled with four errors, led to a seven-run inning, highlighted by a two-RBI single by Finley Geyer to make it 5-2 with one out and and a two-out two-RBI single back up the middle by Skye Welshans o make it 7-2 before Keystone scored three more unearned runs.

“We have a lot of team speed up and down the lineup. If we put the ball in play and put pressure on defenses to not just field the ball cleanly, but also make a good throw to get us out, things can happen. If they bobble the ball, we’re hustling and trying to make things happen that way,” McCann said. “That was the key to that inning, just battling, putting the ball in play, and making them make mistakes. That’s how the game goes sometimes.”

The 10-2 win sends Keystone to the winners’ bracket finals on Friday at Hepburn-Lycoming Little League against Montoursville.

Keystone 10, South Williamsport 2

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Keystone's Madison Edwards backs up at the plate to put the tag on South Williamsport's Sophia Snyder during a Little League softball majors semifinal game on Wednesday at South Williamsport. Keystone won 10-2.

Keystone 210 070 – 10 11 1

South 100 100 – 2 5 4

Ava Lambert, Carlie Pinkerton (5) and Ivy Schaffner. Madison Edwards and Josey McCann. W – Edwards. L – Lambert.

Top Hitters

South Williamsport: Sophia Snyder 2-2. Keystone: Sienna Schneider 2-3.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express South Williamsport's Kloey Smith (78) beats the tag at second during a Little League softball majors semifinal game against Keystone on Wednesday at South Williamsport. Keystone won 10-2.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express South Williamsport's Kloey Smith (78) scores during a Little League softball majors semifinal game against Keystone on Wednesday at South Williamsport. Keystone won 10-2.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Keystone players come off the field with smiles during their win over South Williamsport in a Little League softball majors semifinal game on Wednesday at South Williamsport. Keystone won 10-2.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express South Williamsport's Ava Lambert throws during a Little League softball majors semifinal game against Keystone on Wednesday at South Williamsport. Keystone won 10-2.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Keystone's Josey McCann beats the tag at first as South's Keelie McLaughlin stretches for the ball during a Little League softball majors semifinal game on Wednesday at South Williamsport. Keystone won 10-2.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express South Williamsport's Kinley Barrett (23) beats the tag at second during a Little League softball majors semifinal game against Keystone on Wednesday at South Williamsport. Keystone won 10-2.

RALPH WILSON/For the Express Keystone's Skye Welshans makes the tag at third on South Williamsport's Kloey Smith (23) during a Little League softball majors semifinal game on Wednesday at South Williamsport. Keystone won 10-2.