BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Kiley Channell’s solo homer in the top of the fourth was the only hit for the Keystone Heights High School softball team, which lost 5-1 to host Eustis (a Class 4A regional finalist in 2022) on March 24.
Pitcher Kadence Massey gave up two runs on five hits and one walk in four innings of relief, striking out four.
It was the third straight loss for the Class 3A Indians (4-7).
On March 21, Keystone held a 3-1 lead before eventually losing 7-4 to visiting Oakleaf (a Class 7A regional finalist in 2022).
Keystone scored three runs in the first. Leadoff batter Abbie Roach hit a single, followed by Amber Wagner getting hit by a pitch. Channell then stepped to the plate. After falling behind 1-2, she worked the count to 3-2 before hitting a home run over the fence in center field.
Oakleaf took a 5-3 lead before the Indians scored their final run in the third. Channell hit a leadoff double and scored on a Massey single.
Channell finished 2 for 3. The rest of the team combined for two hits.
Hits were also hard to come by in the Indians’ next outing as host Ridgeview handed them an 8-0 loss on March 23.
Keystone begins play in the annual Kissimmee Klassic on Thursday, March 30, with a game against Bartow at 2 p.m. If the Indians win, they’ll play either Eustis or Cooper City on Friday, March 31, at 8 p.m. If they lose to Bartow, the Indians will play at noon on March 31.
Keystone is one of 16 teams in the tournament’s Blue Bracket.
The tournament runs through Saturday, April 1.
