BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
It was a struggle for the Keystone Heights High School baseball team against the sixth-ranked team in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 3A power poll as the Indians lost 10-0 to host Fernandina Beach on April 21.
Connor Guy went 2 for 3, but the rest of the team combined for two hits.
The Indians (14-6, ranked 21st in 3A) went 1-1 in their previous two games, beginning with a 13-3, six-inning win over visiting Orange Park on April 18.
It was a huge night for Guy, who went 3 for 4 with six RBI. He hit a two-run double in the first and a two-run single in the second as Keystone took a 5-0 lead. Orange Park scored two runs in the third, but another two-run single by Guy was part of a three-run fourth inning as the Indians went up 8-3.
Chase Packham had two RBI, driving in both runs on a triple in the fifth.
A two-out RBI single by Noah Branch in the sixth enacted the mercy rule.
Branch, Carson Eatmon, Ben Goforth, Ryan Jones and Caleb Mize each finished with one RBI.
Starting pitcher Gage Smith gave up two runs, five hits and no walks in four innings. Seth Gagnon and Ty Mitzel each pitched one inning, with Gagnon giving up one run and no hits and Mitzel giving up two hits.
The Indians hosted Yulee (ranked 18th in 4A) on April 19, losing 10-4.
Keystone scored the first run in the first inning. Austin Musgrove walked, advanced to second on an errant pickoff attempt and then moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a ground out by Guy.
The Indians held the 1-0 lead until Yulee scored four runs in the fifth.
Yulee eventually built a 7-1 lead before Keystone scored three runs in the sixth, which featured RBI singles by Musgrove and Smith and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Packham.
Musgrove and Packham each went 2 for 3.
Keystone hosts North Marion (the second-ranked team in 4A) on Tuesday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m. and will end the regular season with a road game against Clay on Thursday, April 27, at 7 p.m.
