Keystone minors see strong run end at states, as they fall to St. Mary’s in elimination game

COLLEGEVILLE - While the Keystone minors once again fought valiantly in a come-from-behind scenario, a full turnaround just wasn't in the cards in Tuesday's elimination matchup against Section 1 champ St. Mary's. Like Monday's state opener against Lehigh, its opponent was able to halt Keystone's rally attempt in the nick of time.

After seeing its three-run lead evaporate in the top of the fourth, St. Mary's responded with two runs in the fifth to put the pressure back on Mill Hall's squad. This time, Keystone was shut down within its last gasp, as it fell to St. Mary's, 6-4, to close out its summer all-star run at states.

It's a heartbreaking way to conclude such a strong run, but the Keystone minors can rest assured knowing it gave some of the best teams in the state a serious run. They finished their states run 0-2, but each game was decided by five runs or fewer, and both games were neck-and-neck in the fourth.

"When you get to the state tournament, you're going to face good pitching," said Keystone manager Nick Packech on the run. "That's kind of what happened to us these two games. We faced tough pitchers and couldn't get enough hits to get it done. Rough first inning, but they battled back. Just a couple plays didn't go our way."

"Just really proud of them. They're a great group of kids. We asked a lot from them, but they did it all with a smile, with high energy all summer long," he added on the run as a whole.

Like three of its previous four games, Keystone found itself down by multiple runs on Tuesday before fighting back to make things interesting in the battle's second half. It saw its first-inning 1-0 lead thwarted in one fell swoop, as St. Mary's scored three runs in the next frame and went up 4-1 in the third. Then, it alleviated the pressure in the fourth.

Mason Wright opened the inning by fighting for a walk before stealing second shortly afterward. Cleanup hitter Cam McGregor followed him with a one-out single to bat Wright home, getting Keystone back on the board for the first time in three innings.

And the rally continued from there. Jasper Zawisa secured the team's third single of the frame to establish corners, a well-placed grounder from Lucas Barclay bat home McGregor on to make it a one-run game and St. Mary's committed an error on a Grady Packech grounder, helping Zawisa reach home to tie the game with two outs on the board.

"They're gonna battle no matter what the situation is," said Packech when discussing the team's ability to rally. "We were in those two games in the fourth and fifth innings, just couldn't get enough players to win either of them, which is unfortunate. But yeah, I'd never count them out."

The rally was almost as short-lived as the previous against Lehigh, as two Keystone errors and a St. Mary's double put its opponent in immediate position to score in the bottom of the fourth. But right fielder Axel Leone made a great play to get a St. Mary's runner out at home. And two Cooper Robinson strikeouts stranded two runners in scoring position.

That bend-don’t-break theme just didn't carry into the next inning. Two walks and another Keystone error granted St. Mary's the lead without an out on the board in the fifth, and an ensuing single gave it a two-run cushion. And though Keystone's bats rose to the occasion in the fourth, they were completely shut down in their final two innings.

Ultimately, a blemished start and errors in critical moments were the difference, producing the unfortunate outcome despite Keystone once again having success on both sides of the field.

Cam McGregor led a five-hit outing for the offense with two hits, two RBIs and a run while Mason Wright notched a double and scored twice. And defensively, Keystone ace Cooper Robinson prospered from the mound, striking out six and allowed five hits, two walks and one earned run through 4 1/3 innings pitched.

"We put him in there in the first with the bases loaded - they already had three runs - and he got a strikeout and calmed it down," said Packech on Robinson. "They manufactured a couple runs late, but he kept us in the game and gave us a chance."

Obviously, it's never easy to lose or see a tournament run come to an end, but it's hard to deny the Keystone minors accomplished a lot to get where they landed in Upper Providence. They now look ahead to what’s next, having set the tone for what could be more exciting summers to come.

St. Mary's 6, Keystone 4

(PA STATE MINOR ELIMINATION GAME)

Keystone 100 300 - 4 5 3

St. Mary's 301 02X - 6 7 1

Cam McGregor, Cooper Robinson (1) and Grady Newton. L - Robinson.

Top Keystone hitters: Cam McGregor 2-2, 2 RBIs, run; Mason Wright 1-2, 2B, BB, 2 runs; Jasper Zawisa 1-2, run; Brayden Reeder 1-2; Alex Leone BB.