BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Gage Smith pitched a complete-game shutout in the Keystone Heights High School baseball team’s 3-0 win over visiting Baker County on March 24.
Smith gave up four hits as the Indians (8-2) won their fourth straight.
Wil Rogel and Andru Siemer each drove in a run in the fifth inning, while Ryan Jones hit a two-out single in the sixth and eventually scored on a passed ball.
Baker pitcher Tucker Kennedy, who went the distance, gave up only five hits, with Keystone’s Noah Branch going 2 for 3.
The Indians’ week began with a 14-0, five-inning win at Fort White on March 20.
Jones hit a two-run triple as part of a 10-run first inning, which also included RBI doubles by Connor Guy and Chase Packham and RBI singles by Branch, Siemer and Andrew Wilson. Errors and a dropped third strike allowed another three runs to score.
Jones and Packham each finished with two RBI, while Branch, Guy, Siemer, Austin Musgrove, Ty Mitzel and Jesse Stanley each had one.
Branch and Stanley each hit a double, going 2 for 3 and 2 for 2, respectively.
Keystone threw a different pitcher each inning. Smith started, giving up two hits and no walks, while striking out one. Stanley gave up one hit and no walks, while striking out two in the second, Seth Gagnon and Ben Goforth gave up no hits and no walks in their innings of work, with Goforth striking out one. Guy closed it out, giving up two hits and no walks, while striking out two.
On March 23, Wilson hit a walkoff double as the Indians defeated visiting Palatka 4-3.
Jones had two RBI in the first inning, but the Panthers would take a 3-2 lead after scoring two runs in the top of the seventh.
Guy drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the seventh and advanced to second on a passed ball. With two outs, Branch reached on an error, which allowed Guy to score and tie it up at 3-3. Wilson fell behind 0-2 in the count, but then ripped a hit into left field.
Wilson and Smith each finished 2 for 3.
Starting pitcher Goforth gave up one run on three hits through five innings. He had five strikeouts.
Musgrove pitched the final two innings, giving up four hits and striking out three.
Keystone plays at Orange Park on Tuesday, March 28, at 7 p.m. and will host Newberry on Friday, March 31, at 7 p.m. The Indians then travel to play Union County on Monday, April 3, at 7 p.m. before returning home to play Bradford on Tuesday, April 4, at 7 p.m.
