BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Class 4A Lake Wales scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead and prevent the Class 3A Keystone Heights High School softball team from winning its third straight game and a 3-1 record in the April 4-6 Roger Jones Kissimmee Klassic.
The game was tied at 1-1 when Alaina Kinsall hit an RBI single in the fourth, but Lake Wales scored three in the bottom of the inning to go up 4-2.
Ashley Nugent hit a single to lead off the fifth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Abbie Roach. Nugent went to third on a fly out by Kadence Massey before Caitlin Frampton drove a 1-2 pitch over the fence in center for a two-run homer, tying the score at 4-4.
Lake Wales hit five consecutive singles to lead off the bottom of the sixth and score the game’s final three runs.
Kinsall and Nugent each finished 2 for 3, with Kinsall driving in one run.
Massey also had an RBI.
Keystone (7-8) opened play in the tournament with a 4-0 loss to Class 7A West Broward on April 4.
The Indians committed four errors and never put a runner in scoring position.
Frampton pitched a complete game, giving up three earned runs and seven hits.
On April 5, pitchers Massey and Nugent combined to allow three hits in a 4-0 win over Class 4A Merritt Island.
A two-run third inning featured a sacrifice fly from Massey that drove in the first run and an RBI single by Frampton, who went 2 for 3.
Delia Johnson led off the fourth with a home run, while Kinsall, who singled and advanced two bases on a wild pitch and a ground out, scored on a wild pitch.
Massey started in the circle, giving up two hits and three walks, while striking out six through five innings.
Nugent allowed one hit and no walks in two innings.
In a second game on April 5, the Indians got a combined seven RBI from Johnson and Kinsall in defeating Class 7A Osceola 14-5.
Osceola went up 4-0 in the first, scoring two of its runs on one error.
It was a 4-2 game when Keystone scored four runs in the fourth. The Indians loaded the bases on walks by Frampton and Johnson and a single by Riley Shuford. Kinsall hit a single that scored one run, while an error on the play allowed another two to score. Bella Cumbo then hit an RBI single.
The Indians led 8-5 when they scored six runs in the sixth. A double from Nugent, a single from Abbie Roach and a walk by Massey loaded the bases. Frampton drew a walk to force a run in before Johnson drove in two on a double. After an error allowed a run to score, Kinsall drove in another two on a double.
Johnson went 2 for 4 with two doubles and four RBI, while Kinsall was 3 for 5 with three RBI.
Nugent, who had one RBI, also went 3 for 5.
Cumbo and Frampton each finished with one RBI.
Starting pitcher Frampton allowed four runs (two earned), six hits and one walk through three innings. She had four strikeouts.
Massey threw four innings, giving up one unearned run and one hit, while walking only two.
The Indians play at Class 5A Ridgeview on Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m. and will host Class 5A Fleming Island on Thursday, April 11, at 6 p.m. Keystone travels to play Class 5A Middleburg on Tuesday, April 16, at 6 p.m.
