BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Keystone Heights High School rallied late to tie the score, but visiting Baker County, which was the Class 4A state runner-up last season, scored in the top of the seventh to defeat the Indians 5-4 in a Feb. 21 softball game.
It was the season opener for the Class 3A Indians.
Keystone trailed 4-1 entering the bottom of the sixth. Tayler Buchanan drew a walk to lead off the inning before Bailey Amato and Kadence Massey hit back-to-back doubles, with Massey’s hit plating two runs. Audry Cisco walked after the first out, followed by Kaleigh Marquart hitting into a fielder’s choice that resulted in Massey being put out at third. Chloe Still then hit a single into right field. Baker committed an error on the play, which allowed Cisco to score and even it up at 4-4.
The Wildcats’ Sadye Harvey hit a single to lead off the top of the seventh. After a ground out, Baker got back-to-back doubles from Mallory Jackson and Baleigh Shields, with Shield’s hit driving home what would be the winning run.
Massey finished 3 for 3 with two RBI, while Amato went 2 for 4 with an RBI. The rest of the team went 2 for 19 against Baker pitcher Rylee Walker.
Walker threw a complete game, as did the Indians’ Massey, who gave up three earned runs, eight hits and one walk. Massey and Walker both had five strikeouts.
Keystone travels to play Tocoi Creek on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. and will travel to play Newberry on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6 p.m. The Indians host Providence on Friday, Feb. 28, at 6 p.m. before playing two straight on the road: at Baker County on Tuesday, March 4, at 7 p.m. and at Clay on Wednesday, March 5, at 7 p.m.
