BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Guage Barry hit a two-run triple as part of a five-run first as the Keystone Heights High School baseball team scored at least three runs in each inning in defeating visiting Bradford 16-3 in 4.5 innings on April 3.
Barry, who went 3 for 3, finished with three RBI, while Tyler Brinson and Andrew Wilson each had two RBI as the Class 2A Indians (15-5) won their second straight and fifth in their last six games.
Though the Indians had only two more hits than Bradford (eight to six), they were able to take advantage of three balks, three passed balls and two wild pitches. The Tornadoes also committed three errors.
Brinson earned the win, allowing six hits and no walks, while striking out four through the first four innings.
Class 3A Bradford (10-12), which dropped its third straight game, put the first runs on the board in the top of the first. Ryland Rike and Patrick Pendarvis hit back-to-back doubles, with Rike scoring on Pendarvis’ hit. After a sacrifice bunt by
Breion Johnson, Pendarvis scored on a Cannon Sapp single.
In the bottom of the first, Wilson reached on a fielder’s choice, while Aiden Screen walked. With two outs, Barry hit his triple, which tied the score at 2-2.
The inning continued, with Ethan Franklin drawing a walk and Tallon Campbell getting hit by a pitch. Barry scored on a wild pitch, while a Brinson single scored Franklin and courtesy runner Brock Screen, putting the Indians up 5-2.
Keystone’s half of the second began with consecutive walks drawn by Destin Harnage and Wilson. After both runners stole a base, Harnage scored on a wild pitch, which also allowed Wilson to advance to third. Aiden Screen then drew a third straight walk for the Indians. Wilson scored on a passed ball, while a Barry single scored Screen.
Rike, who went 2 for 3, led off the top of the third with a double and moved to third on a ground out by Pendarvis, but the Tornadoes couldn’t bring Rike home, with a fly out and a ground out ending the inning.
The Indians’ Ty Mitzel reached on a single in the bottom of the third. He advanced to second on a balk and stole third before Harnage walked. Wilson hit an RBI single, while Harnage would later score on a balk. Wilson, who moved to second on the balk and then advanced to third on a passed ball, scored on a passed ball, making the score 11-2.
Bradford had a runner on with two outs in the fourth. Nehemiah Flowers, who reached on a fielder’s choice, moved to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a Kaedan Parks single. Parks would get caught in a rundown between first and second, which allowed Flowers to score before Parks was tagged for the third out.
Barry and Franklin singled and walked, respectively, to start the bottom of the fourth. Brinson reached on an error to load the bases. Mitzel drew a walk to force a run in before Harnage drove in another on a single. An error on that play allowed another run to score as well. Wilson, who went 2 for 3, stepped to the plate and hit an RBI double. After Aiden Screen was intentionally walked, Austin Smith hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the final run.
Aiden Screen pitched the final inning for Keystone, striking out all three batters he faced.
Keystone entered the game off a 9-1 win at Fernandina Beach on April 1. Mitzel pitched a complete game, allowing one unearned run and four hits, while striking out six.
Three of the Indians’ first five runs occurred on a solo homer by Wilson and a single by Harnage.
Franklin hit a two-run triple as part of a four-run seventh, which also included an RBI single by Aiden Screen.
Harnage, who went 3 for 5, and Franklin both had two RBI each.
Smith and Wilson batted 3 for 5 and 2 for 4, respectively, with Wilson finishing with one RBI.
Campbell and Aiden Screen each had one RBI.
The Indians travel to play Fleming Island on Friday, April 4, at 7 p.m. and then travel to play North Marion on Monday, April 7, at 6:30 p.m.
Prior to playing Keystone, Bradford went on the road and lost 11-1 to Williston on April 1.
The Tornadoes, who were held to four hits, left seven runners stranded in scoring position and failed to score on bases-loaded opportunities in the second and sixth innings.
Parks had the team’s lone run when he singled and scored on a passed ball in the fourth.
Bradford next hosts P.K. Yonge on Tuesday, April 8, at 7 p.m.
