BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Lake Butler Middle School scored three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to defeat host Keystone Heights 7-4 on April 2.
The Tigers were shut out for four innings by Indians pitcher Cody Musgrove, who allowed three hits and two walks before being relieved to start the fifth.
Keystone (5-3-2) scored the game’s first three runs. The bottom of the first began with back-to-back singles from Cason Burton and Kase Sanders. Musgrove drove in one run on a ground out, while Chase Kirk drove in the second on a single.
The Indians added to their lead in the fourth, which began with a Hunter Crumpton double. Crumpton advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Burton ground out.
Lake Butler got on the board in the fifth against a new pitcher. Brody Stephenson walked and advanced on a Weston Thompson sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Kiptyn Shuler hit an RBI double.
Shuler finished 3 for 4 with the one RBI.
The Tigers took the lead in the sixth. Tristan George and Cadenz Merriex both drew walks to lead off the inning. Spencer Legg reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases before Ridge Robinson hit a two-run double. Westyn Miller drove in the inning’s final run on a sacrifice fly.
Each team scored a run in the final inning. Robinson got his third RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly, while Keystone’s Jacob Peak hit an RBI single.
Fisher Thomassen started on the mound for Lake Butler, giving up three runs, eight hits and one walk through 5.2 innings. He had six strikeouts.
Legg finished it off, allowing one run, one hit and no walks.
Keystone entered the game off a 7-7 tie against host Fort White on March 26.
The Indians tied the score at 3-3 with a three-run third inning. With two outs and no one on, Kirk doubled. After Peak walked, Brayden Martin hit a two-run double. The third run scored when Fort White committed an error on a Musgrove ground ball.
Fort White scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-3 lead, but Keystone made it a one-run game in the fourth, getting an RBI single from Collin Phillips and an RBI from Kason Paulk on a ground out.
Keystone took a 7-6 lead in the fifth. Riley Nugent, who entered to run for Martin, who singled, stole second and went to third on a passed ball before scoring on a Musgrove single. Musgrove stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Jo Bardier’s sacrifice bunt.
Fort White took advantage of an error and two singles to score the tying run in the sixth.
It snapped Keystone’s two-game win streak, which began with an 18-8 victory over host Lakeside on March 20 in which Noah Grogan drove in five runs.
Burton hit a two-run single as part of a four-run second inning that also included an RBI single from Sanders.
Burton, Nugent, Sanders and Mikey McCall each had an RBI in a four-run third that put the Indians up 9-2.
Grogan, who went 3 for 4, drove in his first two runs on a triple as a part of a three-run fifth. He hit a bases-loaded single in the fifth that scored every runner.
Burton, McCall and Sanders, who went 3 for 3, each finished with two RBI, while the following had one each: Kirk, Nugent, Wyatt Chapman and Evan Screen.
Peak went 2 for 3.
The Indians hosted Wilkinson on March 21, winning 6-3.
Wilkinson scored three runs in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead, but Keystone answered with three runs of its own in the bottom of the inning. The Indians loaded the bases with three walks. Then, with two outs, Nugent scored on a passed ball, followed by Kirk hitting a two-run double.
Paulk drove in a run in the fifth to put Keystone up 4-3.
Burton and Musgrove each had one RBI in the sixth.
Kirk started on the mound, giving up three runs (one earned) and one hit through three innings.
Musgrove allowed two hits and no walks in four innings.
The Indians host Fort White on Monday, April 8, at 6 p.m. and travel to play Bradford on Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m.
