BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Keystone Heights High School’s softball team won its first two games, but then dropped two in a row to complete a 2-2 outing at the April 3-5 Roger Jones Kissimmee Klassic.
The Indians (6-9) began play with a 5-1 win over Florida Christian, which was ranked eighth in Class 2A at the time. Kadence Massey pitched a complete game, giving up four hits and one walk, while striking out 14.
Cadie Bowles and Amber Wagner hit back-to-back singles to start Keystone’s half of the first. Massey hit an RBI double, while Audry Cisco and Bailey Amato each hit a ground ball to drive in additional runs to make it 3-0.
Wagner, who batted 2 for 3, hit a two-run single in the second.
Bowles finished 2 for 4.
Cisco drove in the game-winning run for the Indians in a 3-2 win over Class 4A Jensen Beach on April 4.
The Class 2A Indians fell behind 2-0, but tied it in the sixth. With two outs and no one on, Massey and Kaleigh Marquart each walked, while Chloe Still reached on an error. Amato then hit a two-run single.
Maddi Glinski led off the bottom of the seventh with a single. She moved to second on Tayler Buchanan’s sacrifice bunt and then to third on a ground out by Bowles. Cisco brought her home with a single, which was one of only four hits for Keystone.
Cisco pitched a complete game, allowing three hits and striking out 10.
Keystone played Class 7A St. Cloud on April 5, with Bella Cumbo’s 2-for-3 performance at the plate accounting for the team’s only runs in a 6-1 loss.
Wagner drove in the lone run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Keystone’s final game of the tournament was a 1-0 loss to Class 3A West Nassau.
Shelby Stewart pitched a complete game, giving up an unearned run and three hits.
West Nassau’s Rylie Turner drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the second. Courtesy runner Eva Stacey advanced to second on a ground out and to third on a passed ball before scoring on a wild pitch.
The Indians had seven hits, but left eight runners stranded in scoring position and failed to score with the bases loaded in the second and seventh innings.
Keystone hosts Oakleaf on Tuesday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. and will travel to play Fleming Island on Thursday, April 10, at 6 p.m. The Indians return home to play Santa Fe on Tuesday, April 15, at 6 p.m.
