BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Keystone Heights High School’s softball team played a tough schedule this year, with not a lot of to show for it, but the hope was that it would pay off after the regular season.
So far, it has paid off in a big way.
The third seed Indians (9-17) defeated top seed Pierson Taylor 10-0 in five innings to win the District 3-3A championship. In three tournament games, they outscored their opposition 29-2.
“It feels good,” said freshman pitcher Kadence Massey, who was two outs away from a no-hitter in the championship game. “As a team, we’ve come a really long way from the beginning (of the season). We’ve worked as a team, and we worked really hard to get here.”
Senior shortstop Kiley Channell said, “It’s just a good feeling because you prove everyone wrong — everyone who’s looking at your record and not knowing the teams you’re playing.”
Channell was referring to a regular-season schedule that consisted of 11 schools in larger classifications that made the playoffs as well as five teams in 3A or below who also made the playoffs. Last year, 11 of the teams Keystone played this year won at least one regional playoff game, with one winning a state title, two finishing as a state runner-up and another two who made it to the Final Four.
“They never really gave up,” Head Coach Jessica Marquart said. “I know sometimes when you’re not winning, it can be kind of depressing, but they stuck with it. They stuck with it at practice. They really believed in themselves and that they could do this.”
The Indians earned the seventh seed in the Region 1 playoffs and hosted second seed Florida High (17-5) in a quarterfinal game on Wednesday, May 10. If Keystone won, it will travel to play either third seed Episcopal (20-4) or sixth seed Fernandina Beach (15-7) in a Tuesday, May 16, semifinal game at 7 p.m.
In the District 3 championship game, Keystone scored all but two of its runs in the first two innings.
The Indians had two on with two outs in the first, with Abbie Roach hitting a single and Channell reaching on an error. Both scored on an Amber Wagner single.
Keystone got four straight singles from Riley Shuford, Madallynn Glinski, Bella Cumbo and Alaina Kinsall to start the second, with Kinsall’s hit driving in a run. The Wildcats did put Cumbo out at second, but the Indians kept the bats swinging. Roach drove in two runs on a triple, while Channell dove in another on a single. Ashley Nugent then singled before Wagner hit a two-run triple to make it 8-0.
Wagner, a freshman, finished 2 for 3 with four RBI.
“Amber’s struggled,” Marquart said. “She did well. Then, she struggled, Now, she’s doing good again. She actually has made a lot of adjustments with her swing. It looks really good now.”
Channell said, “She’s got a big bat. I just try to tell her, “Keep your head up.’ Sometimes she gets down on herself mentally, but she’s a good player.”
The Indians scored their final runs with two outs in the fifth. Kinsall and Nattallie both hit RBI singles
Madallynn Glinski finished 2 for 3, while Kinsall and Roach each went 2 for 4.
Massey, who pitched her third straight complete game, gave up no walks, with the only hit she allowed occurring on a one-out double in the bottom of the fifth.
“My confidence has really been up on the mound, especially with knowing that I have a team that can back me up around me,” Massey said. “I feel like I can pitch strikes and pitch to contact. It doesn’t matter where they hit it. We’ll get outs.”
Marquart said a big part of Massey’s growth this season has been her believing in herself.
“She’s gained confidence on the mound,” Marquart said. “I think that’s a huge thing for her, especially being a freshman and facing all these tough teams.”
In the three district tournament games, Massey allowed a total of 10 hits and three walks. Only one of the two runs she gave up in those games was earned.
“She’s amazing,” Channell said. “I’ve told her if she keeps working, she’s going to be really good by her senior year.”
As for Channell’s senior season, Marquart said it has been “rough” with all the losses, which was why she was glad Channell, who received a scholarship to play for Florida Atlantic University, gets to at least go out with a district title.
“I’m glad for her that we could do that,” Marquart said.
