BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Keystone Heights High School fell behind 5-0 in an eventual 5-3 loss to Class 3A Palatka in a March 28 baseball game in Palatka.
The Class 2A Indians (13-5) were attempting to win their fourth straight.
Palatka took advantage of two singles, a two-run double and a sacrifice fly to score three runs in the first and then benefitted from two errors to score two runs in the third.
Aiden Wossilek put Keystone on the board with an RBI double in the fourth that scored Tallon Campbell, who reached on a two-out walk.
Destin Harnage, who went 2 for 2, and Andrew Wilson both singled to lead off the Indians’ half of the fifth. They scored on Aiden Screen’s sacrifice fly.
Guage Barry pitched a complete game, giving up two earned runs, five hits and no walks.
The loss was part of a 2-1 week for the Indians with the first win coming by a score of 13-5 against Class 3A Paxon on March 25 in Keystone.
Wilson and Ty Mitzel each hit an RBI single as part of a fourth-run second that put Keystone ahead 5-1.
Keystone increased its lead to 8-1 with a three-run third that included an RBI double by Wossilek. Harnage and Wilson each batted in a run as well.
A five-run fifth included RBI singles hit by Aiden Screen and Brock Screen.
Aiden Screen finished 3 for 4 with two RBI, while Wilson batted 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Mitzel went 2 for 3 with one RBI.
Wossilek and Brock Screen each finished with one RBI.
Starting pitcher Ethan Franklin allowed three runs (two earned), four hits and one walk through 3.1 innings. He struck out four.
Mitzel pitched 2.2 innings, giving up two runs (one earned), four hits and no walks, while striking out two.
Aiden Screen allowed no runs, no hits and no walks in the final inning, striking out one.
On March 27, the Indians got a complete game out of pitcher Mitzel in a 4-1 home win over Class 3A Middleburg.
Mitzel gave up just two hits and one walk, while striking out nine.
Aiden Screen drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first, while Harnage, who went 2 for 3, hit a two-run single in the second.
Barry, who batted 2 for 2, drew a bases-loaded walk in the fourth for the final run.
Keystone travels to play Fernandina Beach on Tuesday, April 1, at 7 p.m. and will host Bradford on Thursday, April 3, at 7 p.m. The Indians travel to play Fleming Island on Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m. and then play a road game against North Marion on Monday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, April 8, Keystone hosts Eagle’s View at 6:30 p.m.
