BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Keystone Heights High School batters struck out 13 times against Trinity Catholic pitcher Mekai Griffin, who helped his own cause at the plate with a three-run homer as the host Celtics defeated the Indians 5-3 in the May 2 District 4-3A baseball tournament championship game.
The second seed Indians (20-8) never led, but trailed by just one run entering the sixth. Four of the final seven batters struck out.
Griffin threw a complete game for the top seed Celtics (12-11), allowing four hits and just one walk.
Trinity earned an automatic berth in the Region 1 playoffs, while Keystone waits to see if it’ll earn an at-large bid.
The playoffs begin Wednesday, May 8.
Trinity had two runners on with two outs in the bottom of the first, courtesy of two singles. Brian Rudman’s single scored one run. Aidan Morey attempted to score from second on the play, but Connor Guy’s throw from center field enabled catcher Tallon Campbell to put him out and end the inning.
Keystone’s Andru Siemer hit a ground ball to third and reached on an error with one out in the top of the third. He scored on an Alex Addington single into right field, tying it up at 1-1. Addington was left stranded after a fly out and a strike out.
The Celtics put two on in the bottom of the third, with Nate Colon drawing a walk and Connor Tundis reaching on a bunt single. Morey bunted a ball toward pitcher Austin Musgrove, who threw to home to put out Matt Wetherell, who was running for Colon. Griffin then stepped to the plate and crushed the first pitch he saw over the scoreboard in left, putting Trinity up 4-1.
Trinity’s lead was cut in half in the fourth. Campbell was hit by a pitch and stole second before advancing to third on an Aiden Screen single. A Brady Kerlin ground out scored Campbell. Screen was left stranded on second when a strikeout ended the inning.
Siemer led off the top of the fifth with a single and advanced two bases when the Celtics committed an error on a pickoff attempt. Guy, who was hit by a pitch, appeared to be caught in a rundown between first and second, but with Siemer heading home from third, Trinity decided to try to get the out at home. Siemer was safe, while Guy advanced all the way to third. Two straight strikeouts left Guy stranded, but the Indians now trailed just 4-3.
Keystone, though, couldn’t get anything going against Griffin. The sixth inning began with two straight strikeouts. Ty Mitzel was hit by a pitch, but Griffin followed that play with another strikeout.
Griffin led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk. He stole second and advanced to third on a Rudman ground out before scoring on a passed ball.
Down to their last chance, the Indians struck out to start the seventh. Two straight fly outs ended the game.
Musgrove pitched a complete game for Keystone, allowing eight hits and two walks, while striking out five.
