Keystone minors open states with first summer loss, fall to Lehigh
Trending
COLLEGEVILLE - After kicking off its summer all-star run with six straight wins en route to states, the Keystone minor baseball team saw that hot streak end against one of the top teams in the state in Lehigh.
Opportunities presented themselves after the team fell behind early. But in this case, the Section 6 champion was able to shut down any rally attempts, holding Keystone to two runs, scoring five combined in its last three offensive frames and advancing to winner's semifinals behind a 7-2 win.
With the loss, the Keystone minors will now compete in a win-or-go-home elimination game for the first time on Tuesday. They'll face the loser of Section 1 champ St. Mary's and Section 8 champ Upper Providence at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, with the winner of that matchup playing again at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Despite the loss, Keystone manager Nick Packech was proud of what the team put out on the field on Monday evening. A long way from home, the team hung with one of the eight best teams in the state, gave itself a shot to win until the end and will look to build on the performance on Tuesday.
"They definitely played hard. We gave ourselves a chance," said Packech on the performance. "We just left a lot of runners on base today and didn't seem to get the one or two timely hits we needed. But they played hard; they were in it."
"Their team could hit the ball really well. Hats off to them; they're a very good team. They played a really good game, and we just didn't quite have enough today," he added on Lehigh.
After going down 3-0 in the bottom of the third, Keystone's best opportunity presented itself in the very next frame.
Its top of the order got three straight runners on base to open the top of the fourth. Grady Newton fought for a walk and Mason Wright and Cooper Robinson each logged singles, with Newton getting home on a fielder's choice to grant the team its first run.
Though Lehigh secured its first out there and the second two batters later, Keystone was able to load the bases again amidst that stretch. Then, Grady Packech delivered a fly ball to center for a timely RBI single, batting Robinson home to cut the deficit to one.
However, Lehigh was able to prevent Keystone from making more out of the play, and a strikeout on the next play ensured Lehigh held on to its waning cushion. Keystone had picked up momentum, but it quickly diminished in the following innings, as Lehigh responded with poise.
It immediately erased Keystone's progress in the next frame, scoring two runs in the first three at-bats of the fifth. Keystone's offense couldn't re-establish the same promise it displayed in the fourth and got retired in its last two innings, and Lehigh added two insurance runs in the fifth to up its cushion to a forever standing five.
Mason Wright started from the mound, surrendering two earned runs through 3 2/3 innings pitched, and McGregor and Packech allowed just one combined hit and two walks through the last 1 1/3.
"[Mason] gave us a chance," said Packech on Wright's start. "He's a very good pitcher, and they still made some good contact. Getting through that stretch was always going to be tough, but we were still in it there. Just didn't make a couple plays there."
Offensively, six Keystone players finished with a hit while Newton and Robinson made up the team's two runs and McGregor and Packech made up its two RBIs.
While the loss stings, the Keystone minors get a shot to turn things around on Tuesday. Whatever happens there, it's been a strong, memorable run for the team, which already has District 12 and Section 3 championships under its belt.
"Tomorrow's a new day," said Packech on his message to the team following Monday's game. "It wasn't our day today, but it doesn't mean that tomorrow isn't going to be different. We're playing a different opponent, and we're going to come ready to play again."
Lehigh 7, Keystone 2
(PA STATE MINOR BASEBALL TOURNAMENT)
Keystone 000 200 - 2 6 2
Lehigh 201 22X - 7 9 1
Mason Wright, Cam McGregor (4), Grady Packech (5) and Grady Newton. L - Wright.
Top Keystone hitters: Cam McGregor, Grady Packech 1-2, RBI; Cooper Robinson 1-2, run; Mason Wright, Axel Leone 1-2; Grady Newton run.