BY CLIFF SMELLEY
London Williams hit a bases-loaded triple as part of a seven-run third inning and later drove in what would prove to be the winning run in the Keystone Heights Junior High softball team’s 12-11, four-inning win over top seed Lake Butler in the semifinals of the Suwannee Middle Athletic Conference on April 23 in Lake Butler.
The fourth seed Indians (4-7) will play second seed Fort White for the championship on Thursday, April 25, at 6 p.m. at Lake Butler’s O.J. Phillips Recreation Complex.
Keystone took a 4-0 lead over Lake Butler in the top of the first, which began with three consecutive singles from Cadie Bowles, Williams and Rebecca Binet, with Bowles scoring on Binet’s hit. Bailey Amato drove in a run on a ground out, followed by Grace Keaston driving in one on a single. Kierstyn Brinson singled, with Keaton being put out at third. Bryley Lee and Kalyn Huffingham were both hit by pitches to load the bases. Kadeance Pace then drew a walk to force a run in.
Lake Butler (8-7) cut the lead in half with a two-run second. Courtney Manning singled, followed by Emily Hunt drawing a walk. Manning scored on a passed ball before Ashlyn Ferris hit an RBI single, making it a 4-2 game.
Keystone scored seven runs in the third to go up 11-2. Keaton singled and scored on a Brinson double. One out later, the Indians loaded the bases with Huffingham and Pace both walked. Bowles drew another walk to force a run in before Williams cleared the bases with her triple. Williams scored on a wild pitch to put Keystone up 10-2.
The inning continued with Keystone loading the bases on walks by Binet and Keaton and a single from Brinson. Lee walked to force a run in.
Lake Butler answered with eight runs in the bottom of the inning. Raelynn Alvarez hit a one-out single and advanced on an illegal pitch and a passed ball. Makayla Orton and Kailynn Gulbrand hit a single and a double, respectively, each driving in a run. Gulbrand scored on a passed ball before Manning walked. Hunt hit an RBI double to pull the Tigers to within 11-6.
The Tigers weren’t done. After Ferris walked, Jessa Dekle drove in a run on a bunt. Layla Crowe walked before Delaney Rhoden hit a two-run triple. Rhoden scored Lake Butler’s 10th run on a passed ball.
Pace led off the top of the fourth with a single and scored on a Williams double for a 12-10 Keystone lead.
Gulbrand doubled to lead off the Tigers’ half of the fourth. She scored on a Manning single. Hunt then hit a single, with the Indians putting Manning out at second. After the second out, Dekle walked to put runners on the corners. Keystone pitcher Amato then recorded a strikeout.
Williams and Brinson finished 4 for 4 and 3 for 3, respectively. Keaton went 2 for 2.
Hunt and Manning each went 2 for 2 for the Tigers, while Gulbrand was 2 for 3.
