Keys Gate Charter Advances To Black Bracket Quarterfinals

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The Keys Gate Charter Knights came into the HSBN March Madness Shootout on a hot streak, having won three straight that included a big district victory over rival Gulliver Prep. Monday afternoon the Knights kept that momentum going, holding off the Reavis Rams from Illinois for a 7-5 victory in the opening round of the Black Bracket.

Keys Gate Charter (11-5) will now take its four-game winning streak into a semifinal meeting with Mater Lakes, who advanced on Saturday by defeating South Plantation on the other side of the bracket.

The Knights trailed by one before responding with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brandon Espinal, Omar Baldo and Anthony Vargas all reached base by getting hit by a pitch to load the bags, and Enzo Evangelista then lined a double to left field that drove in a pair. Joe Diaz followed that with a single to right that plated two more runners.

Evangelista was 2-for-3 to lead his club, and Diaz finished with three RBIs.

The Rams (5-6) refused to go down quietly, as they made one final rally bid in the seventh. Kyle Murnane collected his second hit of the day to lead things off, but was then erased at second on a fielder’s choice that landed Peter Sedlacek at first base. Peter Madritsch and Bailey Boyd followed with singles that loaded the bases, and Trevor Estrada worked his second walk of the game to drive in Sedlacek.

Knights starter Jimmy Galvis induced an infield grounder that he scooped up and threw to first to retire the final batter and end the contest. Galvis went the distance on the mound, allowing seven hits and six walks while striking out seven.

Reavis received solid production throughout the lineup, as every starter reached base to contribute. Matt O’Shaughnessy drove in a pair as part of a three-run second inning that gave Reavis an early lead.

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