Keystone minors look to carry Sunday’s energy into Section 3 final
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Keystone’s Grady Newton, left, high-fives teammate Cooper Robinson (8) during a Section 3 8-10 baseball game against Athens on Sunday. Keystone won 11-10, and went on to beat RT, 8-2.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Keystone’s Mason Wright (10) and Cam McGregor man their infield positions during a Section 3 8-10 baseball game against Athens on Sunday.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express The Keystone minor baseball team takes the field ahead of a Section 3 8-10 baseball game against Athens on Sunday. Keystone faces the winner of Selinsgrove and Roosevelt Trail on Tuesday.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Keystone’s Cam McGregor secures the last out of an inning during a Section 3 8-10 baseball game against Athens on Sunday. Keystone won 11-10.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Keystone catcher Grady Newton tries to get an Athens runner out during a Section 3 8-10 baseball game against Athens on Sunday.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Keystone’s Grady Newton, left, high-fives teammate Cooper Robinson (8) during a Section 3 8-10 baseball game against Athens on Sunday. Keystone won 11-10, and went on to beat RT, 8-2.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Keystone’s Mason Wright (10) and Cam McGregor man their infield positions during a Section 3 8-10 baseball game against Athens on Sunday.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express The Keystone minor baseball team takes the field ahead of a Section 3 8-10 baseball game against Athens on Sunday. Keystone faces the winner of Selinsgrove and Roosevelt Trail on Tuesday.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Keystone’s Cam McGregor secures the last out of an inning during a Section 3 8-10 baseball game against Athens on Sunday. Keystone won 11-10.
TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Keystone catcher Grady Newton tries to get an Athens runner out during a Section 3 8-10 baseball game against Athens on Sunday.
Trending
Despite not facing a deficit through its entire District 12 tournament run, the Keystone minor baseball team proved it could handle the scenario when it finally presented itself in the first round of sectionals. It had enough poise to patiently whittle down a four-run deficit and kept that energy down two with three outs to go in extras.
That energy, which led to an 11-10 win over Athens and carried into another against Roosevelt Trail, was an exciting sight for manager Nick Packech. It further boosted his trust in the kids, who have now won five games in a row on their way to a Section 3 championship final berth.
"It was definitely very good to see. It was good to see them just stay energized the whole game," said Packech "We were down by four runs at one point, and the positive energy stayed in the dugout. They went up there, had good at-bats and just kept battling, and that's awesome to see."
"They're a very good group of kids. They play very hard; they all listen very well, and they battle. It was really good to see it all come together there in that game, all aspects of it," he added.
Now, the team has the potential to close out the Section 3 tournament in one fell swoop on Tuesday. With a win in the championship final, either against Selinsgrove or Roosevelt Trail, Keystone would advance to the 8-10 state tournament, which is set to take place in Upper Providence Township between July 27 and Aug. 2.
The prospect is easier said than done. Tuesday's game is bound to present more challenges, as Selinsgrove and Roosevelt Trail have each notched impressive wins. They face off at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, with that game not finishing in time for this edition.
Roosevelt Trail beat Selinsgrove in a pitcher's duel, 1-0, to open its Section 3 run, with starting pitcher Kase Morningstar pitching a 14-strikeout no-hitter in the victory and falling one walk short of a perfect game. And Selinsgrove's defense allowed three hits there and one against Athens, while its offense bounced back for 11 hits in the 16-1 victory.
But the Keystone minors have proven up to the challenge so far. For now, Packech hopes to see the kids carry the energy they presented on Sunday forward. A win on Tuesday means gold, but a loss doesn't doom their chances either, with an if game scheduled for Wednesday if that were to occur.
"I'm excited. They've definitely played very well," said Packech on Sunday as a whole. "It was a long day for them, but they definitely kept it together. They're doing everything we've asked, they're playing well, they're hitting the balls, making plays and throwing strikes."
"I'm really proud of them. They've done a really good job. Just hopefully on Tuesday, we come out and just keep it going," he added.