After seeing its first inning lead stolen, relieving pitcher Adam Meyer ensured Elk Lake never impacted the scoreboard again, pitching six straight innings of scoreless ball to keep Keystone well within striking distance. Keystone tied things up in the second before effectively breaking through Elk Lake’s wall of defense in the seventh, scoring five runs to propel itself to a 7-2 win.

It wasn’t a victory without sacrifice, as Meyer – Keystone’s ace – breached the 85-pitch limit and won’t be able to return to the mound again this tournament. But to manager Matt McDermott, it was worth it, a sacrifice that helped the team pick up a crucial win against a tough squad.

“They’re a heck of a team, hats off to them,” said McDermott on Elk Lake. “I told the kids after the game that there’s no way they’re going to be ahead in every game. They’re going to have to do what they do, come back and take the lead. It took them till about the fifth inning to start coming around (offensively), but they did in the end.”

Meyer stepped in with a runner on first, two outs, over five innings of regulation to go and little time to warm up. Tasked with stifling Elk Lake’s momentum after a two-run bomb with all that in mind, he stumbled initially, issuing a walk and pitching two straight balls.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone's Adam Meyer pitches during the team's Section 3 major tournament game against Elk Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2025, at Sam Fairbanks Memorial Park in Athens. Keystone won 7-2.

But after catching first baseman Kaden Netherton swinging once, he’d do so again and again to close out the frame, stranding two. Things quickly clicked into place from there, as Meyer proceeded to pitch a gem.

“(My mindset was) just throwing strikes and letting the defense play,” said Meyer on his mentality entering the first. “Our defense is pretty good.”

He’d retire the side in the second, with the first two outs being strikeouts and the last occurring thanks to a great play from second baseman Carter Leone, who delivered a force out at first from his knees. And that was just the first of three retirements, as he went three-up, three-down in the fourth and fifth as well.

By the time he exited in the seventh, he’d helped get Keystone to the doorstep, one out away from victory. Dylan McDermott stepped in and finished the job one batter later, as the team went 6 1/3 straight innings without surrendering a run.

On the day, Meyer attributed 11 strikeouts to just three walks and one sixth-inning hit. Each time Elk Lake got on base, he and his field responded with an onslaught of outs, never facing more than four batters in an inning, seeing a runner to get past first or allowing Elk Lake to reestablish its momentum from the first.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone centerfielder Brooks Warner slides for home during the team's Section 3 major tournament game against Elk Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2025, at Sam Fairbanks Memorial Park in Athens. Keystone won 7-2.

“Adam did a heck of a job coming in and pitching, and I told the kids that others will have to step up down the road and fill his spot,” said McDermott on Meyer. “(Defensively), they were pretty solid. We’ve been practicing hard all week, and this should be when it’s fun, when they show up and play.”

None of that would’ve mattered if Keystone couldn’t get its offense going. But though Elk Lake’s defense stood stout for much of the game, it managed to do just that.

Going into the second inning trailing 2-1 and nearing the bottom of its order, it seemed like Keystone’s best chance at tying it up would come later, as Elk Lake picked up two quick outs. But right fielder Ryker Packech was able to fight for a walk before left fielder Karter Markle posted the game’s only double on a fly ball down the left field line, getting Packech home for what proved to be a pivotal run.

From there, the teams would track scoreless innings until the seventh, where Keystone was finally able to break the game open.

With a runner – Dylan McDermott – on second to start extras, centerfielder Brooks Warner forced a fielding error on a popup and short stop Gio Cej was intentionally walked to quickly load up the bases. Meyer took a fast ball to the shoulder to bat the lead-taking run in, another error got two more home and Hunter Kisko capped off the barrage with a two-RBI single to right, giving Keystone a lofty 7-2 cushion.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone left fielder Karter Markle reels in a fly out during the team's Section 3 major tournament game against Elk Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2025, at Sam Fairbanks Memorial Park in Athens. Keystone won 7-2.

Offensively, seven Keystone batters logged a hit on the day, with Meyer, Leone and Kisko posting two RBIs, Warner reaching home twice, Parkech fighting for two walks and catcher Jordan Germello attributing two hits. While its offense stalled at times, it still contributed to a well-rounded win for the team.

With the victory, Keystone maintained its spot on the winner’s side of the bracket and is set to take on Selinsgrove at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Win there, and the team would clinch a spot in Tuesday’s championship game.

“We’ve played them the last two years up here at sectionals, so we’re pretty familiar,” said McDermott on Selinsgrove. “Our kids have got to come to play every day, and we’ll be fine.”

“We’ve got to hit the ball a lot harder,” said Meyer on the focus heading into Sunday’s game.

SECTION 3 MAJOR BASEBALL TOURNAMENT

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone's Carter Leone slides for a base during the team's Section 3 major tournament game against Elk Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2025, at Sam Fairbanks Memorial Park in Athens. Keystone won 7-2.

Keystone 7, Elk Lake 2, 7 innings

KEY 110 000 5 – 7 8 0

ELK 200 000 0 – 2 3 2

Gio Cej, Adam Meyer (1) and Jordan Germello. Trenton Miller, Kaden Netherton (6), Kipton Ruark (7) and Tanner Rezykowski. W – Meyer. L – Netherton.

Top Keystone hitters: Adam Meyer 1-2, 2 RBIs, run; Carter Leone 1-3, 2 RBIs, run; Hunter Kisko 1-3, 2 RBIs; Karter Markle 1-3, 2B, RBI; Brooks Warner 1-3, 2 runs; Jordan Germello 2-2. Top Elk Lake hitters: Trenton Miller 1-3, HR, 2 RBIs, run; Tanner Rezykowski 1-3, run; Corbin Laudermilch 1-1.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone's Adam Meyer pitches during the team's Section 3 major tournament game against Elk Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2025, at Sam Fairbanks Memorial Park in Athens. Keystone won 7-2.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone first baseman Dylan McDermott swings at. a pitch during the team's Section 3 major tournament game against Elk Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2025, at Sam Fairbanks Memorial Park in Athens. Keystone won 7-2.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone's Gio Cej slides home for a run during the team's Section 3 major tournament game against Elk Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2025, at Sam Fairbanks Memorial Park in Athens. Keystone won 7-2.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone shortstop Gio Cej swings at a pitch during the team's Section 3 major tournament game against Elk Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2025, at Sam Fairbanks Memorial Park in Athens. Keystone won 7-2.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone catcher Jordan Germell makes contact with a pitch during the team's Section 3 major tournament game against Elk Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2025, at Sam Fairbanks Memorial Park in Athens. Keystone won 7-2.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone second baseman Carter Leone slides for home during the team's Section 3 major tournament game against Elk Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2025, at Sam Fairbanks Memorial Park in Athens. Keystone won 7-2.

CHRIS MANNING/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone's Riley Allen attempts a bunt during the team's Section 3 major tournament game against Elk Lake on Saturday, June 12, 2025, at Sam Fairbanks Memorial Park in Athens. Keystone won 7-2.