BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Ashley Nugent drove in three runs, while pitcher Kadence Massey gave up four hits in the Keystone Heights High School softball team’s 7-1 win over fourth seed Pierson Taylor in the District 3-3A tournament semifinals on April 30.
Top seed Keystone (12-11) will play second seed Palatka (11-15) for the championship on Thursday, May 2, at 6:30 p.m. in Palatka.
The Indians led 1-0 before a three-run second. Caitlin Frampton and Amber Wagner both singled and stole a base with one out before scoring on a Bella Cumbo single. Riley Shuford and Alaina Kinsall followed with singles as well, with Kinsall’s hit driving in a run.
Keystone added another three runs in the fourth. With one out, Shuford singled, while Abbie Roach doubled. Nugent hit a two-run single with two outs, followed by Massey hitting a run-scoring single for a 7-1 lead.
Cumbo finished with two RBI, while Kinsall and Massey each had one.
Shuford and Wagner each went 2 for 3, while Roach went 2 for 4 with two doubles.
In the circle, Massey gave up no walks and struck out six.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak.
On April 23, the Indians traveled to Baldwin, losing 15-0 in four innings. They had just one hit off pitcher Shaylen Byrd, while committing 11 errors defensive. Only three of Baldwin’s runs were earned.
Keystone hosted West Nassau on April 24, losing 7-2.
The Indians trailed 3-0 before scoring two runs in the fourth. Nugent and Roach hit back-to-back singles. Massey was intentionally walked to load the bases with two outs, setting the stage for Nattallie Glinski, who hit a two-run single.
Glinski’s hit was one of only five for the team. Kinsall had two of those hits in four at-bats.
West Nassau increased its lead to 5-2 in the fifth and scored a run each in the sixth and seventh innings.
