BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Austin Musgrove gave up two hits through six innings, while Seth Gagnon and Chase Packham each drove in two runs in the Keystone Heights High School baseball team’s 9-2 win over host Bradford on Feb. 23.
It was a two-run game after six as Musgrove and Bradford starter Cason Pilcher recorded nine and 10 strikeouts, respectively. The Indians (1-1) plated five runs in the seventh for the final seven-run margin.
Keystone’s Ryan Jones had the game’s first hit, leading off the top of the second with a double. One out later, he attempted to steal third, but was thrown out by Pilcher, with third baseman Ryland Rike making the tag.
The second hit of the game came from the Indians’ Wil Rogel, who singled with two outs in the top of the third. Packham then hit a triple to put the Indians up 1-0.
Bradford (1-2) answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Mattox Burgin drew a leadoff walk, but was later put out at second when Blake Wynn hit into a fielder’s choice. Ryder Thompson drew a walk, followed by a Jeffrey Brugh single that loaded the bases. Rike and Luke Stucky hit consecutive infield grounders that scored Wynn and Thompson, giving the Tornadoes a 2-1 lead.
The Tornadoes wouldn’t get a runner in scoring position the rest of the game.
It remained 2-1 until the top of the fifth, when Keystone’s Andrew Wilson hit a leadoff double into left field. A dropped third strike on batter Gage Smith allowed courtesy runner Aiden Screen to advance to third as Bradford catcher Kacen Thomassen had to make a throw to first to record the out on Smith. Rogel hit a ground ball to second baseman Thompson for the second out, but Packham then hit a single to score Screen and tie it up. A Musgrove double allowed Packham to come around and score to make it 3-2.
Keystone added a run in the sixth when a two-out single by Smith scored Noah Branch, who reached on a single.
Packham led off the top of the seventh with an infield single. Pilcher exited the game for Bradford after that. He gave up nine hits and just two walks.
The Indians had two on after Musgrove reached on a bunt. An error on a pickoff attempt allowed Packham to score. Keystone then loaded the bases on a walk drawn by Connor Guy and a bunt single hit by Jones. Branch and Wilson each drew a walk to force a run in before Gagnon’s two-out single plated another two to end the scoring.
Ben Goforth relieved Musgrove to close it out on the mound in the bottom of the seventh. Goforth forced Bradford to ground out twice and also recorded a strikeout.
Packham finished 4 for 5 at the plate. Jones and Musgrove went 2 for 4 and 2 for 5, respectively.
Branch, Musgrove, Smith and Wilson each had one RBI.
Keystone next travels to play Middleburg on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 6:30 p.m. The Indians return home to play Williston on Friday, March 3, at 7 p.m. before traveling to play Newberry on Monday, March 6, at 7 p.m. Keystone then travels to play North Marion on Tuesday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m.
The Tornadoes travel to play Madison County on Monday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. They then play two more road games: at Baker County on Tuesday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. and at Palatka on Monday, March 6, at 7 p.m.
