Keystone advances to title tilt

By rscaife
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Updated: July 11, 2017

By Kenny Varner
BEECH CREEK – Forget the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby in Miami, the District 12 contest between Keystone and Montoursville had its share of homers in the District semi finals in Beech Creek.
Fans of the Keystone 10-11 year old all -stars witnessed a hitting performance seldom seen in Little League action, four round trippers in one inning and six overall.
With that much fire power, Keystone didn’t waste much time taking their contest over Montoursville, winning 17-5 in just four innings.
Keystone pounded out a total of 11 hits in the run shortened contest.
Offensively, Keystone got a mammoth effort from Elek Fravel as he want a perfect 3-for-3 with two home runs, a double, six RBIs and three runs scored.
Connor Foltz also went yard twice in a 2-for-4 effort with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Seth Fronk cane off the bench to collect a 3-run homer and a double while collecting four RBIs.
Lead off hitter Gardy Fravel also joined the home run club, hitting a solo shot in the third.
“The bats really came to life today. It’s fun to see hard work in practice paying off in the game. We do a lot of hitting drills, hitting up the middle and working hard,” Keystone coach Scott Fravel said. “In the first couple games we played we got up early and in this one we were tested a little bit. It was good to see them scrap and battle and not roll over. They showed some heart.
Montoursville took the first lead of the ball game, starting from the top of the first.
Dylan Bower led off reaching on a Keystobe miscue but would later become a vi Tim of a fielders choice.
With one out Niko Rotoli bounced into that fielders choice but was able to later steal second.
Montoursville went for a special pinch runner in Luke Steinbacher, who reached third a pitch after coming in.
Teammate Jayden Wilson walked, putting runners on the corners.
A single by Tyler Leutze brought in Steinbacher and moved Wilson to third.
Wilson brought the score to 2-0 as he scored on a wild pitch.
Trailing 2-0, didn’t seem to phase Keystone as they. And up to the plate to bat for the first time.
Gardy Fravel led off with a walk.
With one out, Brady Myers walk as well.
Elek Fravel sent a shot down the left field line scoring Gardy, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
With one powerful swing of the bat, Keystone had a 4-2 advantage thanks to the game’s first home run by Foltz.
That would be the only runs the home team would muster in the first.
In the second, Montoursville was ready to make the game a nail biter, playing two runs to knot the game at two going into the bottom of the inning.
Kevin Grenninger got his team off and going on the right foot, walking to start things off.
With two outs, Keystone caught lightning in s bottle as if was able to rally to take back the lead.
Brady Myers singled and set the stage for Elek Fravel once again. Fravel was automatic as he blasted a 3-run shot over the centerfield fence, upping the score to 7-4.
But the Keystone defense tightened its belt and only allowed one run by Montoursville, setting things up for an unforgettable bottom of the third.
In an inning that had a total of 16 players cone up to the plate, Keystone tallied four hone runs and three doubles as they put the game on ice with the 10-run inning.
With a 17-5 lead going into the fourth, Keystone clamped down even harder on defense, blanking Montoursville and ending the contest 17-5 victors.
Keystone will now play at Legion field Friday night for the District 12 title something their coach is excited about.
“We’re in a pretty good spot right now. The bats are really alive and pitchers are doing a nice job,” Fravel said.