Three years ago, Packech coached the Keystone minor baseball team to the district title. And exactly three years ago to the day on July 11, Packech did it once more.

Packech’s Keystone all-star team cruised past East Lycoming, 12-0, in four innings to claim another District 12 championship for Keystone Little League on a sunny afternoon at the home of the Little League World Series.

“My older son’s team won it three years ago, that last picture out there was just a recreation of little ones out there from three years ago.” Packech said. “I’m very proud of them. They put the work in and they get it done. It’s awesome to see.”

The win advances Keystone to the Section 3 tournament.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone Little League players huddle up during a District 12 Minors Championship game against East Lycoming on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

Keystone came out strong in Saturday’s title game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning to set the tone and never took its foot off the gas, adding an additional nine runs in the second inning to go ahead by double digits.

“That’s huge. To get a lead and then it takes a lot of the pressure off as the game goes on,” Packech said. “You get yourself a little bit of a cushion and they relaxed and settled in, and it helps them play better.”

East Lycoming opened the first inning with a leadoff infield single by Bryce Snyder, who moved to second on a passed ball. Hudson Smith then reached on a walk to put two runners on. But that would be the end of a great start for East Lycoming as a pop up, strikeout and line drive ended the inning without any runs. East Lycoming would only see two more batters reach the remaining three innings.

“We knew they were going to throw strikes and we had to be able to hit the ball,” East Lycoming manager Randy Wurst said. “We hit the ball, but they made outs. They earned it. We knew they could hit the ball and we just had to get some outs on the base paths.”

The second inning is where Keystone blew the doors open and effectively put the mercy rule into effect.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Players for Keystone Little League Minors admire their Championship medals after defeating East Lycoming in a District 12 Championship game on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

Keystone would go collect a leadoff double into right followed by back-to-back singles, one of which was an RBI single by Ozzy Emerick which drove in Brayden Reeder, who had the leadoff double. Axel Leone, who had a single into shallow center, scored on a passed ball.

Keystone would have a fly out and another runner get out heading to second after being walked. But with two outs, Keystone kept getting runners on.

Three hits, five walks and an error with two outs helped Keystone go ahead 12-0 after the second inning in which the Clinton County all-stars batted through 15 kids.

“Offensively yeah, they hit the ball really well today,” Packech said. “I don’t know the numbers, but I think that was our best day at the plate.”

East Lycoming did well in the third inning to not allow Keystone to add to its lead, forcing Keystone to strand runners at second and third, but East Lycoming’s offense wasn’t able to get hits against the combination of Cooper Robinson (three innings) and Mason Wright (one) who combined to give up just two singles, one walk and struck out four.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Players for Keystone Little League Minors run a lap around the field with their Championship banner after defeating East Lycoming in a District 12 Championship game on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

Keystone’s defense did well forcing fly outs and grounders throughout the game, preventing East Lycoming from getting numerous base runners on and rallying throughout.

After consecutive three up, three down innings in the second and third, East Lycoming had a single up the middle to put Hudson Smith on before Weston Group reached base due to a catcher’s interference to put two runners on at the corners. But a strikeout in the next at bat ended any chance for a rally in East Lycoming’s final at bat chance to extend the game down by 12.

“Again, they played a really great game. They worked hard now for the past month or so. We’ve really stressed defense with them and they showed that. When the ball was in play, they usually make the play,” Packech said. “They know where to be, they’re down and ready. They’re doing everything we asked. And offensively yeah, they hit the ball really well today. I don’t know the numbers, but I think that was our best day at the plate.”

While the loss stung for East Lycoming’s players, they still showed heart throughout the all-star tournament. After dropping into the elimination bracket, East Lycoming battled back to reach Saturday’s district final and got to play at Volunteer Stadium.

“We did (battle through). It’s a lot of baseball, but the kid’s practiced hard,” Wurst said. “We just do what we can when we get out there and have the right opportunity, right?”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Players for Keystone Little League Minors pose with their Championship banner after defeating East Lycoming in a District 12 Championship game on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

East Lycoming’s Bryce Snyder (1 for 2) and Hudson Smith (1 for 1, walk) were the team’s lone hitters.

Keystone was led by Mason Wright (2 for 2, walk, three runs), Cooper Robinson (2 for 3, RBI, two runs), Lucas Barclay (2 for 2, double, three RBIs, run), Brayden Reeder (double, RBI, run), Grady Newton (1 for 3, RBI, run), Axel Leone (1 for 1, walk, stolen base, run), Ozzy Emercik (1 for 2, stolen base, RBI, run), Trenton Stacy (two walks), Grady Packech (1 for 1, walk) and Jasper Zawisa (walk, hit batter, run).

Keystone 12, East Lycoming 0

(4 INNINGS)

East Lycoming 100 0 — 1 2 1

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone Little League manager Nick Packech reacts after his team defeated East Lycoming in a District 12 Minors Championship game on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

Keystone 390 x — 12 11 0

Weston Group, Callen Schall (2), Blake Swartz (3), Maverick Hackenberg (3) and Nicholas Gordon. Cooper Robinson, Mason Wright (4) and Grady Newton, Beckett Foltz (4). W: Robinson. L: Group.

Top East Lycoming hitters: Bryce Snyder 1-2; Hudson Smith 1-1, BB. Top Keystone hitters: Grady Newton 1-3, RBI, run; Mason Wright 2-2, BB, 3 runs; Cooper Robinson 2-3, RBI, 2 runs; Cam McGregor RBI, BB, run; Jasper Zawisa, BB, HBP, run; Lucas Barclay 2-2, 2B, 3 RBIs, run; Grady Packech 1-1, BB; Brayden Reeder 2B, RBI, run; Axel Leone 1-1, BB, SB, run; Ozzy Emerick 1-2, SB, RBI, run; Trenton Stacy 2 BBs.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone Little League manager Nick Packech reacts after his team defeated East Lycoming in a District 12 Minors Championship game on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone's Cooper Robinson throws during a District 12 Minors Championship game against East Lycoming on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent East Lycoming's Weston Group throws during a District 12 Minors Championship game against Keystone on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent East Lycoming's Weston Group throws during a District 12 Minors Championship game against Keystone on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent East Lycoming catcher Nicholas Gordon makes the tag at home on Keystone's Lucas Barclay during a District 12 Minors Championship game on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone's Jasper Zawisa makes the tag at first on East Lycoming's Nicholas Gordon during a District 12 Minors Championship game on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent East Lycoming's Blake Swartz attempts the tag at home on Keystone's Mason Wright during a District 12 Minors Championship game on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent East Lycoming's Blake Swartz attempts the tag at home on Keystone's Cooper Robinson during a District 12 Minors Championship game on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent East Lycoming's Bryce Snyder attempts the tag at third on Keystone's Grady Newton during a District 12 Minors Championship game on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Keystone Little League players celebrate as they line up at the end a District 12 Minors Championship game against East Lycoming on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent East Lycoming's Callen Schall congratulates Keystone Little League players at the end a District 12 Minors Championship game on Saturday at Volunteer Stadium in South Williamsport. Keystone won 12-0 in four innings.