Telegraph Staff Writer
A five-run sixth inning by the Keystone Heights High School baseball team evened the score and eventually forced extra innings, but second-seed Baldwin scored on a walkoff single in the bottom of the eighth to defeat the Indians 8-7.
Baldwin took advantage of three errors in scoring four runs in the second inning to go up 5-0. An error in the third allowed two runs to score and put third-seed Keystone in a 7-2 hole.
The Indians (13-13) loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the sixth when Alex Addington and Noah Branch walked and Ashton Roach singled. Bryce Hart and Dalton Hollingsworth hit back-to-back singles to drive in one and two runs, respectively. Chase Packham drove in a run on a ground out, while Conner Guy’s sacrifice fly tied the score at 7-7.
Keystone had two runners on with two outs in the top of the eighth, with Hollingsworth reaching base on a dropped third strike and Ryan Jones getting hit by a pitch. A fly out would end the inning.
Baldwin’s Jordan Rhoden led off the bottom of the inning with a single. He was still at first after the Indians recorded two outs, but after a walk drawn by Christopher Kirk, Will Frederick singled on a line drive into center field to win the game.
Hollingsworth finished with two RBI, while Hart and Packham each went 2 for 4 with one RBI.
Guy finished with one RBI.
Baldwin scored seven runs against starting pitcher Cole Cumbus, but only two were earned. Cumbus gave up four hits and no walks in two innings.
Ben Goforth pitched the remaining six innings, giving up five hits and striking out five.
