SCRANTON, Pa. – Keystone baseball exploded for a combined 50 hits with 13 home runs in a double-header sweep of Clarks Summit, 24-0, and 31-5, in Colonial States Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Lackawanna College Field.
Junior Chris Hadsall (Lehman, Pa./Lake Lehman) had a 7-for-8 day to surpass 100 hits in his career. The third baseman hit three home runs in game No. 1, tying a then-program record for most homers in a game — set by Eric Groff in 2010.
Graduate senior Adam Kelly (Beach Lake, Pa./Honesdale) fell a homer short of hitting for the cycle in the first game but saved it all for game No. 2 as he went yard four times to set a new single-game program record.
With the wins, Keystone clinched a spot in next month's four-team CSAC Championships along with Wilson, Cairn and Saint Elizabeth.
The Giants improved to 14-14 overall and 8-2 in the CSAC while CSU fell to 1-22, 1-9 CSAC.
Game 1: Keystone 24, Clarks Summit 0
The Giants got on the board fast and early with five runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a bases-clearing double by Kelly and a two-run home run from Hadsall.
Nathan Hinkley (Bradenton, Fla./Saint Lucie West Centennial) got the start on the mound and was perfect through 6-1/3 innings before surrendering a single to Sawyer Deroche.
Senior Sam Beadle (Canton, Conn./Canton) closed out the final two innings of work while notching four consecutive strikeouts.
Game 2: Keystone 31, Clarks Summit 5
RJ Gouldsbury (Throop, Pa./Mid Valley) got the scoring started in the first inning with the first of two two-run homers on his way to a 4-for-7 game with six RBIs.
Brandon Valles (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) got his second start of the season, going 5.0 innings with seven strikeouts and three earned runs allowed.
Wynston Dyer (Columbia, S.C./Spring Valley) and Luis Francisco (Laceyville, Pa./Stroudsburg) came in hot off the bench to deliver a combined seven RBIs with each getting two hits — including a dinger — and two runs scored.
Ryan Schubert (Stewartstown, Pa./Kennard-Dale) also got in the game with a 3-for-3 appearance at the plate with a double and three runs scored.
Inside The Box Score
- Giants to hit home runs in Saturday's games include: Kelly (4), Hadsall (3), Vince Montone (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Township) (2), RJ Gouldsbury (Throop, Pa./Mid Valley) (2), Dyer (1) and Francisco (1).
- Montone collected seven hits on a 7-for-11 outing with four doubles, five RBIs and six runs scored.
- Fifty of the Giants' 55 runs were credited as earned.
- Joshua Knight led the Defenders in batting, going 2 for 8 with 2 RBIs and a home run of his own. The senior also got the start on the mound in game No. 2 going 4-1/3 innings.
What's Next
- Keystone will play Misericordia (23-12 overall) for a series of non-conference matchups starting with home games on Monday, April 25 and a JV contest Tuesday, April 26 before playing the Cougars on the road Wednesday, April 27.
- Clarks Summit will play April 26 at Keuka College (12-14-1 overall) before hosting Wilson (22-8 overall, 8-2 CSAC) on April 29 for its regular-season finale.
- The CSAC Championships is set to begin May 6-7 with the best-of-three championship series May 13-14.
