BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Keystone Heights High School had no trouble scoring runs — with four alone coming on one swing of the bat by Abbie Roach — in defeating third-seed Santa Fe 12-2 in five innings to win the District 3-3A softball championship on May 5 in Keystone.
It was the first district title for the Indians (17-9) since 2017.
“These girls have put in the work,” Head Coach Jessica Marquart said. “They came out here, worked hard and busted their butts to win it. It was a goal of theirs.”
Keystone hosted a Region 1 quarterfinal game on Wednesday, May 11. If the Indians won, they’ll play a semifinal game on Tuesday, May 17.
In the District 3 championship game, the top-seed Indians went the first two innings without a hit, but things changed in a big way in the bottom of the third. Delia Johnson and Kadance Massey-Hoadley drew back-to-back walks to lead off the inning and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Jaiden Robinson. Johnson scored the game’s first run on a wild pitch.
Finally, in the team’s 10th at-bat, Emma Rogel hit a single that scored Massey-Hoadley to make it 2-0. Keystone then loaded the bases after an Alaina Kinsal single and a Kiley Channell walk. That set the stage for Roach, who sent a 1-1 pitch over the fence in left to make it a 6-0 game.
It was Roach’s first career homer.
“I knew that ball was going to be past the outfield, but I did not know it was going over,” Marquart said. “I was so excited for her.”
Keystone’s third inning was still not done. With two outs, Kinley Carlton launched a homer of her own to give the Indians and pitcher Madi Mitzel a seven-run cushion.
That was plenty of run support for Mitzel, who gave up five hits and just one walk.
Santa Fe (13-10), which put a runner on in each of the first three innings, did so again in the fourth. Brooklyn MacDougall walked with one out. Myah Johnson entered to run for MacDougall and scored on a Maddie Martin double.
The Indians answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and no one on, Rogel walked, followed by a Kinsal single. Both scored on a single by Channell. After Roach was hit by a pitch, Mitzel and Carlton each hit an RBI single to make the score 11-1.
Kinsal ended the game with an RBI single after Keystone loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth.
Keystone finished with 10 hits as a team.
“I told them, ‘Hey. Be patient, get your pitch and hit it hard.’ They did exactly that,” Marquart said.
Kinsal went 3 for 4 with an RBI, while Carlton was 2 for 3 with two RBI.
Roach led the team with the four RBI off her grand slam. Channell had two RBI, while Mitzel and Rogel each had one.
