BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Host Clay hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth as the Keystone Heights High School baseball team lost 4-2 in its regular-season finale on April 27.
Clay is ranked fourth in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 5A power poll, but the Indians (23rd in 3A) scored a run each in the fourth and sixth innings to tie the game and eventually force an extra inning.
Though he allowed two runs in the first, Keystone starting pitcher Austin Musgrove pitched a shutout over the next five innings, allowing six hits and two walks in his six total innings of work. He had six strikeouts.
Keystone (15-7) got on the board when Chase Packham singled to lead off the top of the fourth, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an error.
The Indians tied the score two innings later. Packham, who reached on a fielder’s choice, was on first with two outs. After stealing second, he scored on a Musgrove single.
Musgrove’s hit was one of four Keystone managed against pitchers Elijah Roberts and Joshua Rouw.
Clay threatened to break the tie in the bottom of the sixth. Ruow hit a double and later advanced to third on an error. Musgrove was able to successfully pick him off on a throw to third baseman Ryan Jones.
Ruow, though, proved to be the eventual hero for the Blue Devils. After Chase Haggard drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the eighth, Ruow drove the first pitch he saw over the fence in left.
Though they came up short against Clay, the Indians did get a quality win two nights earlier, defeating visiting North Marion 5-3 on April 25.
North Marion is ranked second in the FHSAA’s 4A power poll.
Keystone took a 1-0 lead in the first with Musgrove leading off the inning with a home run. The Indians pushed another run across in the first when Connor Guy, who singled, scored on a Noah Branch single.
The Indians trailed 3-2 before scoring two runs in the fourth. With two outs, Packham singled, followed by Musgrove drawing a walk. Both scored on a Guy triple.
Guy, who went 3 for 4 with three RBI, hit an RBI double in the sixth to end the scoring.
Starting pitcher Ben Goforth went five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and seven hits. Jones threw the final two innings, giving up one hit.
