Keystone College Athletics

LA PLUME, PA- The Giants first win of the 2026 playoff run gave head coach Jamie Shevchik a historic milestone, 800 career wins. It was not an easy battle in game one, as the Giants found themselves in an 8-0 hole heading into the eighth inning, where the teams offense erupted to steal a 10-8 win. The Giants offensive storm continued into game two, where Keystone took down the Lions 10-4, ending Penn State Brandywine's season.

Game One: (Keystone 10, Brandywine 8)

Game one saw the two teams locked into a pitching duel, with Cooper Ryan (State College, Pa./State College Area) leading the charge for the Keystone defense. Ryan continued to shine through four innings of play before the Lions offense broke open the game for the first run of the contest. Penn State Brandywine began to pile on the runs in the ensuing inning, taking a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth. Heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, the Lions held an 8-0 lead over the Giants.

This large lead did not hold long though, as Keystone erupted in the eighth to knock in ten runs, being enough to steal game one. Ray Moreta (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) singled to left field, scoring Dillion Bird (Westlake, La./Sulphur) for the Giants first run of the game. Benny Hess (Reading, Ohio/Reading Community) was hit by a pitch, forcing Emilio Portes (Miami, Fla./Monsignor Pace) to score. Carlos Pascual (Paterson, N.J./International) singled through the left side in the ensuing at-bat, scoring Ray Moreta (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield). The Giants continued to pressure in the inning, where the Lions began anything to stop the rally of the home team.

Once more, with the bases loaded, Teegan Monroney (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) was hit by a pitch, scoring Dante Ruby (Archbald, Pa./Valley View). The lead was trimmed down to four runs when the Lions pitcher sent a wild pitch to home plate, scoring Benny Hess (Reading, Ohio/Reading Community). A Colson Bennett (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) singled up the middle, sending the ball far enough to score both Teegan Monroney (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) and Carlos Pascual (Paterson, N.J./International) to cut the lead down to one. The Giants gained their first lead of the contest shortly after Dillion Bird (Westlake, La./Sulphur) singled to shortstop. Emilio Portes (Miami, Fla./Monsignor Pace) reached first on a throwing error by the Lions Pitcher, scoring the go-ahead runs in Dillion Bird (Westlake, La./Sulphur) and Colson Bennett (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney). Portes scored the tenth and final run of the game on a passed ball.

Brandon Valles (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) came in to close out the game in the ninth inning, facing three batters, retiring all three. The Giants comeback was complete with a 10-8 win in game one, forcing the Lions into a win or go home game two scenario.

Game Two: (Keystone 10, Brandywine 4)

Keystone did not wait long to start the offensive rout in game two, as Jonathan Santiago (Dunnellon, Fla./Citrus Springs) singled to left field in the first inning, scoring both Benny Hess (Reading, Ohio/Reading Community) and Dante Ruby (Archbald, Pa./Valley View), both of which earned a base hit to start the contest. The Lions were able to get out of the first inning without allowing any more damage, with Keystone taking the early 2-0 lead.

Leam Powell (Phillipsport, N.Y./Chapel Field Christian) remained phenomenal on the mound, allowing just two hits into the fourth inning of play. The Giants knocked in their third run of the game in third inning with a SAC fly by Santiago, scoring Carlos Pascual (Paterson, N.J./International). Keystone's first big lead of the contest came in the fourth inning when Ray Moreta (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) doubled through the left side to score Dillion Bird (Westlake, La./Sulphur).

Penn State Brandywine would not be beaten that easily though, as the Lions knocked in four runs in the fifth inning to knot the game right back up at four runs each.

The Giants regained the lead and never looked back in the fifth inning when Benny Hess (Reading, Ohio/Reading Community) scored on a throwing error by the Lions catcher. Benny Hess (Reading, Ohio/Reading Community) singled in the sixth inning to score Dee Rice (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) for KC's sixth run of the game. The Giants poured on the runs in the eighth inning, knocking in four insurance runs.

Ray Moreta (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) tripled through the right side to score Dee Rice (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman), before a close play at home scored Ray Moreta (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield). Benny Hess (Reading, Ohio/Reading Community) reached first on a fielder's choice bunt to squeeze in Moreta for the home team's eighth run of the game. The Giants final two runs of the game came off the bat of Jonathan Santiago (Dunnellon, Fla./Citrus Springs) as he doubled to center field, scoring Hess and Erick Castro (Northampton, Pa./Northampton Area). 

Noah Parks (Seattle, Wash./Tahoma) finished the day for the Giants on the mound in the ninth inning of play, where the Keystone pitcher once more faced off against three batters, taking all three down.

The Giants move on to the final four United East Championship double elimination bracket next weekend. All game times and opponents are to be determined.