Telegraph Staff Writer
Pitchers Gage Smith and Ben Goforth held host Newberry to three hits in the Keystone Heights High School baseball team’s 9-2 win on March 6.
Smith, who started, gave up two runs on two hits through 5.1 innings. He struck out 11.
Goforth pitched the remainder of the game, giving up one hit and no walks, while striking out one.
The Indians (4-1) scored all the runs they’d need in the first two innings. With two outs in the first, Noah Branch hit an RBI single, while an error allowed another run to score. Austin Musgove hit an RBI single in the second that put Keystone ahead 3-1.
With the effort of the pitchers, the Indians didn’t need a big inning, but put together one anyway, scoring five runs in the third. Andrew Wilson hit an RBI double, while Smith and Wil Rogel each hit an RBI single. Musgrove drew a bases-loaded walk, with the inning’s final run coming off a wild pitch.
Musgrove finished with two RBI, while Branch went 4 for 4 with one RBI. Rogel, Smith, Wilson and Conner Guy each had one RBI, with Guy, Rogel and Smith each going 2 for 4. Guy’s RBI came off a solo home run.
On Feb. 28, the Indians got two RBI each from Branch and Guy in a 9-2 win over host Middleburg.
Keystone had a five-run third inning, which saw Guy and Musgrove each hit an RBI double. Branch and Wilson each drove in a run in the inning as well, with Branch scoring a run on a wild pitch.
Guy finished 2 for 4, while Wilson, Ryan Jones and Chase Packham each went 2 for 3. Jones and Wilson each had one RBI, as did Musgrove and Caleb Mize.
Garrison Teague hit a double.
On the mound, Smith threw the first four innings, giving up no runs, four hits and no walks. He struck out four.
Jesse Stanley gave up no runs and no hits in two innings of relief.
Just prior to playing Newberry, Keystone got more solid pitching from Musgrove and Jones as well as three RBI from Jones in a 13-3, five-inning win over visiting Williston on March 3.
Musgrove started on the mound, giving up three runs, four hits and two walks, while striking out five in three innings.
Jones pitched the final two innings, giving up two hits and one walk, while striking out three.
Keystone got off to a fast start at the plate, scoring five runs in the first inning. Jones hit a two-run triple, while Branch and Rogel each drove in a run on a single.
The Indians ended the game early with a six-run fifth. All runs were scored with two outs. Wilson hit an RBI double, while Seth Gagnon drew a bases-loaded walk. Three runs scored on wild pitches and an error.
Jones and Musgrove each went 2 for 3, with Jones hitting two triples and Musgrove hitting a double and driving in one run.
Branch, Gagnon, Guy, Rogel and Wilson each had one RBI, with Guy hitting a triple and Wilson hitting a double.
Keystone plays at North Marion on Tuesday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. and will host Fort White on Thursday, March 9, at 6 p.m.
