BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Ty Mitzel drove in three runs to help the Keystone Heights High School baseball team defeat host Palatka 9-3 on March 8.
It was a 2-2 game before the Indians scored two in the top of the fourth. Alex Addington singled with two outs and scored on a Connor Guy double. Guy then scored on an Austin Musgrove double.
Keystone (6-1) extended its lead with a four-run fifth. Mitzel, who went 2 for 4, drove in two runs on a ground ball and later scored on a passed ball. Addington drove in a run as well.
Addington, Guy, Musgrove and Austin Smith each finished with one RBI.
Starting pitcher Gage Barry gave up two runs (both unearned) and two hits in four innings. He had five strikeouts.
Mitel threw two innings, allowing one run, two hits and no walks.
Guy finished it off, giving up no hits in the final inning.
The Indians, who haven’t lost since their season opener against Clay, began the week with an 8-0 win over host Williston on March 5.
Starting pitcher Mitzel gave up no hits and one walk through three innings, striking out five.
Brady Kerlin and Aiden Screen each pitched one inning, with Kerlin allowing two hits and Screen allowing one. Each had two strikeouts.
Musgrove had an RBI triple that was one of just five hits for Keystone. The Indians, though, had a big second inning in which five runs were scored on a wild pitch, a passed ball and an error.
The Indians hosted Baker County on March 7, with Musgrove striking out 12 in a 2-0 win.
Musgrove, who pitched a complete game, gave up two hits and no walks. He threw 84 pitches, with 64 being strikes.
Keystone scored both of its runs in the third. Guy, who went 2 for 2 with a double, drew a two-out walk and scored on a Musgrove triple. Smith then hit a run-scoring single.
The Indians will return to action on Tuesday, March 19, when they host Bradford at 7 p.m. Keystone travels to play Ridgeview on Wednesday, March 20, at 7 p.m. and then travels to play Yulee on Thursday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Keystone returns home to play Williston on Tuesday, March 26, at 7 p.m.
