Moore pitches, powers Loyalsock past Keystone in D12 Major Baseball

Paul Roman watched Evan Moore pitch on his regular-season team throughout the spring months and knew what the youngster was capable of, even after Moore allowed eight runs in a pool play start earlier in the week.

"The defense just didn't help him out in that game, but I thought that was his best start of the season," Roman said.

That is, until Friday.

Moore kept a strong Keystone offensive team silent, giving up two runs in 4 2-3 innings and helped his own cause with a two-run homer in the third as Loyalsock won 5-4, Friday in Montoursville.

Loyalsock gets a date with undefeated Montoursville today, while Keystone falls into the elimination bracket and will face the loser of Shore/GSV and Lycoming Valley on Sunday at Newberry.

Moore, who was a member on last year's Loyalsock team that advanced to the state tournament, struck out seven and issued only two walks.

"That was by far the best outing he has had all season. He was great," Roman said of Moore. "Whenever you have to play Keystone, that's a program. It's not like they are up one year and down the next. They are always strong. We faced a very good East Lycoming pitcher recently, and being able to beat him, I think we came in with confidence."

Keystone, down 5-2 entering the final inning, never quit.

Trapper Kunes started it off with a double to right-center field and Emery Watson followed two batters later by ripping a Riley Thomas pitch off a blue crane in center field, cutting it to 5-4.

Dylan Kerstetter drew a two-out, eight-pitch walk, but Thomas was able to strike out the final batter for the one-run victory.

"We battled back. They never die, which is a good thing," Keystone manager Matt Kerstetter said. "Unfortunately, it was too late."

Loyalsock jumped on Keystone starter Jacob Miller immediately.

Tommy Baggett, who ripped an all-important home run in the fifth to give Loyalsock a 5-2 lead, started the game with a double down the left-field line. He later scored on a two-out single back up the middle by Bryan Patel - who also crossed home on a RBI single by Brennan Casale later in the frame.

Moore helped his own cause in the third when he crushed a pitch into the playground in center field for a two-run homer and a 4-1 cushion.

"They have a good-hitting ball team," coach Kerstetter said. "Defensively, I thought that both sides played well. They just jumped on us early. I think the two home runs helped them there. Jake and Emery both pitched well, but their pitcher was tough. He had a nice breaking ball that kept us off-balance. We just struggled with the bats."

Keystone had a golden opportunity in the second inning with one run already in the dugout and the bases full of players. But Moore managed his second strikeout of the frame, ending the threat.

Keystone left a total of nine on base -four in scoring position.

"Evan and Tommy were the two kids that were on last year's 12-year-old team that went so far. The last two games, they've been big for us," Roman said. "There's no doubt those two home runs were big."

Miller picked up the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in three innings. He had good control, striking out one and issuing no walks. Watson tossed two innings of relief ball, giving up one run on three hits with a strikeout and one walk.

Watson had the big bat for Keystone, missing the cycle by a triple. He was 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Kunes was 2-for-3. Loyalsock's Baggett, Moore and Andrew Malone each had two hits.

Keystone would need to win five straight games to capture a District 12 title.

"We have to keep our heads up and keep focused on one game at a time," Matt Kerstetter said. "If we can do that, we will be fine."

Keystone010 102 - 4 9 0

Loyalsock 202 01x - 5 9 0

K: Jacob Miller, Emery Watson (4) and Gavin Caprio. L: Evan Moore, Riley Thomas (5) and Ben Sosa. WP - Moore. LP - Miller.

HR: K, Watson. L, Tommy Baggett, Moore. 2B: K, Watson, Trapper Kunes. L, Baggett. MH: K, Watson 3, Kunes 2. L, Baggett 2, Moore 2, Andrew Malone 2.