BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Ethan Franklin and Austin Smith each hit a two-run single as part of an eight-run eighth inning as the Keystone Heights High School baseball team defeated host Baker County 9-1 on Feb. 14.
Franklin earned the win, giving up one hit and one walk, while striking out six through five innings.
The Indians (1-2) scored first when Gage Barry hit a double to lead off the top of the third, advanced to third on a Brock Screen sacrifice bunt and scored on a balk.
Baker tied it up in the fourth. The Wildcats’ first two batters walked, while the third hit a single to load the bases. Kaiden Burnsed then hit an RBI single.
The Wildcats still had no outs when starting pitcher Barry, who allowed three hits, was relieved by Franklin. Franklin struck out the first two batters he faced. A ground out then ended the inning.
Keystone threatened to score in the sixth. Smith and Tallon Campbell hit back-to-back singles with one out. A ground out and a fly out, however, left them stranded.
Barry hit a single to lead off the seventh. He advanced two bases on a sacrifice bunt by Franklin and a ground out by Destin Harnage. He was caught stealing home for the inning’s third out.
The Indians’ big eighth inning began with Andrew Wilson hitting a triple. After a strikeout and a Smith walk, Campbell hit an RBI single. Tyler Brinson walked to load the bases. Two runs came across when Ty Mitzel was hit by a pitch and Barry walked. Franklin then hit a single that plated two runs and put Keystone up 6-1.
Keystone loaded the bases again when Harnage singled. After a fly out, Aiden Screen walked to force a run in. Smith then drove the final two runs in with a single.
Campbell finished 3 for 5, while Barry went 2 for 3.
Harnage and Smith each went 2 for 4.
The Indians entered the game off two losses to open the season.
On Feb. 11, visiting Clay scored all of its runs in the final three innings to hand Keystone an 8-6 loss.
Keystone took a 4-3 lead with a two-run fifth. One run scored on an error, while the other was the result of Wilson getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Blue Devils had a big sixth inning, scoring four runs on five walks (two with the bases loaded) and a single.
Wilson, who went 2 for 3 with three RBI, hit a two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but a pop-up to first ended the Indians’ rally.
Barry and Smith each finished 2 for 4, with Smith driving in one run.
Brinson had an RBI as well.
Starting pitcher Barry allowed no runs, four hits and one walk through 2.2 innings. He had four strikeouts.
Keystone hosted St. Joseph Academy on Feb. 12, with the Flashes scoring three runs in the first of what was a 3-1 loss for the Indians.
St. Joseph took advantage of two singles, a walk and two errors to score its runs.
The Indians had two runners on with two outs in the fifth, with Campbell and Brinson each hitting a single. Barry walked to load the bases before Campbell scored on a wild pitch. A strikeout ended the inning.
Keystone had two on with one out in the sixth, with Wilson walking and Aiden Screen hitting a single. The Flashes then turned a double play to get out of the inning.
Campbell reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Brinson drew a walk, with both runners then advancing on Mitzel’s sacrifice bunt. A strikeout and a fly out ended the game.
Keystone finished with only three hits.
Mitzel, who started on the mound, allowed eight hits and two walks, while striking out seven in five innings.
Harnage threw the final two innings, giving up one hit and no walks. He had three strikeouts.
The Indians travel to play Interlachen on Monday, Feb. 17, at 7 p.m.
