However, in the case of the Keystone majors’ District 12 opener against Jersey Shore, the bumps were few and far between. Outside of stranded runners and two errors, they controlled Monday’s contest at Taggart Park from start to finish on their way to a first-round win.

Starting pitcher Madison Edwards posted a strong tournament debut from the mound, striking out 11 batters while allowing Jersey Shore to turn six scattered hits and two walks into just three runs. Eight batters logged hits, and all ten made it on base, as the team scored in all six innings on its way to a comfortable, 9-3 win.

“We’re happy we got the win for sure,” said Keystone manager Chipp McCann following the victory. “Jersey Shore is a quality opponent; we interleague with them through the year, so we kind of knew what we were expecting.”

“We left a few too many runners on base, and a couple defensive plays bit us in the butt. But the goal is to get better from where we start to where we finish. And if we do that, I think we’ll be all right,” he continued.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Anyssa Steppe pitches during a District 12 major all-star tournament opener against Keystone on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Taggart Park. The Jersey Shore majors fell 9-3.

Keystone set the tone as early as possible on Monday evening. Two pitches in, Josey McCann (2-for-4, 2 runs) belted a high grounder straight down the middle for leadoff single. And after stealing second and third, a sacrifice fly from Edwards would bat her home for the first run of their tournament.

Jersey Shore would go on to strand loaded bases behind starting pitcher Anyssa Steppe’s first strikeout. But though Keystone’s initial rally was held to just one run, that reality wouldn’t last long. Its next two innings would produce its biggest offensive surge of the evening, as it rolled out to a 6-2 lead heading into the fourth.

In the second, Rainey Probst and McCann each got on base with two outs before a Blake Houser grounder to left center got them home. Then, one inning later, a Jersey Shore fielding error got the ball rolling, and three two-out hits – including a two-RBI double from Skye Welshans – helped Keystone double its scoring output with three runs.

From there, it was just a matter of maintaining its cushion. Keystone would add an insurance run in each of the remaining three innings while its defense continued to limit the damage from Shore’s bats, ultimately upping that cushion to six by the time they reached the finish line.

Offensively, Keystone showed strength from top to bottom. Eight of its hitters combined for 11 hits on the evening. McCann, Houser and Welshans contributed multiple, with Welshans entering as their lineup’s ninth batter.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Keystone's Josey McCann (10) scores a run during a District 12 major all-star tournament opener against Jersey Shore on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Taggart Park. The Keystone majors won 9-3.

“We have a great group of girls. They’re here for a reason,” said McCann when asked about the team’s lineup-wide success at the plate. “I thought we ran the bases pretty aggressively for the most part, put some pressure on them. We try to preach that.”

“Up and down the lineup, the girls put the ball in play, and you can’t really ask for much more than that,” he added.

Defensively, Edwards left her mark in every inning she pitched.

She struck out multiple batters in the first four innings – including all three in the second – and closed each inning that saw Jersey Shore impact the scoreboard. Welshans logged three outs – two force outs and one putout – at third, and McCann made multiple big plays at catcher, picking off a runner at second in the fifth and catching a foul popup in the sixth.

“Madison Edwards threw a great game,” said McCann. “She controls the game out there from the circle. As long as we do the defensive part to support here, we’ll be fine.”

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Zoey Zinck, left, attempts to get Keystone's Sienna Schneider (7) out at third during a District 12 major all-star tournament opener against Keystone on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Taggart Park. The Jersey Shore majors fell 9-3.

Despite the loss, Jersey Shore had its moments throughout Monday’s game.

Offensively, Macie Fisher and Anyssa Steppe contributed RBIs in the second and third respectively, with Fisher’s second-inning triple to right being the longest hit of the night. Those hits, coupled with Arianna Welshans stealing home in the fourth, helped the team stay within striking distance as it scored in three straight innings.

Defensively, Steppe and Nora Rupert combined for two strikeouts, two putouts and five force outs from the mound, with Rupert stifling a laser straight down the middle in the sixth. Third baseman Zoey Zinck made multiple tough plays, and the team as a whole stranded ten runners – eight in scoring position.

Jersey Shore returns to action Tuesday, facing Williamsport at Nippenose in a win-or-go-home scenario. For Keystone, its road continues on Wednesday, as it takes on South Williamsport on the road at 5:45 p.m.

“Wednesday, we play at South, not really sure what we’re getting into,” said McCann on the matchup. “I’ve heard they have a pretty strong team, but I think we have a pretty strong team too.”

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Keystone's Mia Barth (25) prepares to bat during a District 12 major all-star tournament opener against Jersey Shore on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Taggart Park. The Keystone majors won 9-3.

“If we show up and play the way we’re capable, I like our chances.”

Keystone 9, Jersey Shore 3

(DISTRICT 12 MAJOR SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT)

Madison Edwards and Josey McCann. Anyssa Steppe, Nora Rupert (4) and Arianna Welshans. W – Edwards. L – Steppe.

Keystone 123 111 – 9 11 2

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Keystone's Madison Edwards (13) pitches during a District 12 major all-star tournament opener against Jersey Shore on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Taggart Park. The Keystone majors won 9-3.

J. Shore 011 100 – 3 6 3

Top Keystone hitters: Skye Welshans 2-3, 3B, 2 RBIs, run; Blake Houser 2-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, run; Josey McCann 2-4, RBI, 2 runs; Mia Barth 1-2, 2B, RBI. Top Jersey Shore hitters: Anyssa Steppe 2-2, RBI; Macie Fisher 1-2, 3B, RBI; Arianna Welshans 1-1, 2 runs; Nola Rupert run.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Keystone's Rainey Probst (18) celebrates a run during a District 12 major all-star tournament opener against Jersey Shore on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Taggart Park. The Keystone majors won 9-3.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Macie Fisher high fives a coach after hitting a triple during a District 12 major all-star tournament opener against Keystone on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Taggart Park. The Jersey Shore majors fell 9-3.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Arianna Welshans (14) high fives a coach during a District 12 major all-star tournament opener against Keystone on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Taggart Park. The Jersey Shore majors fell 9-3.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Keystone's Blake Houser runs for first after hitting a two-RBI single during a District 12 major all-star tournament opener against Jersey Shore on Monday, June 15, 2026, at Taggart Park. The Keystone majors won 9-3.