Jupiter’s Kyle Keatts Shuts the Door on Palm Beach Central

The last time Palm Beach Central and Jupiter met, tournament stakes were on the line, but this time, it was for possession of first place in the District 8A-9 standings.

“Both teams being 13-3 and 2-1 in the district, we knew the importance of the game,” Jupiter coach Andy Mook said. “We wanted to make a statement, and I think we did a great job tonight.”

The Jupiter Warriors did just that as they beat Palm Beach Central 7-1 behind a strong pitching performance by Kyle Keatts.

Keatts was backed early as the offense jumped to a quick start. In the bottom of the first, Jupiter took advantage of a shaky start by Palm Beach Central starter Jorge Alfonso to push three across the board. Catcher Ronnie Healy opened the scoring with an RBI single, and Scott Danek laced a single to right to bring in two more.

Jupiter starter Keatts utilized the early lead to throw seven innings of one-run ball. His command of the strike zone kept the Central lineup off balance, and his fastball overpowered batters at times.

For Keatts, it was a different outing from the first time he faced the Broncos, as he struck out only two batters compared with seven the last time the teams met. However, the result was the same, as he beat the Broncos for the second time this year.

“I trust Ronnie Healy with all my heart,” Keatts said. “I have a great defense, and I knew that they would make all the plays behind me, so I focused on hitting the zone and letting them do the rest.”

While Keatts was doing it on the mound, the offense kept adding runs. In the bottom of third, Pat Walther hit the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence to give the Warriors a 4-0 lead. Then, the Warriors put it out of reach in the bottom of the fifth, when they scored three more. David Tavilla was the beneficiary of key mistake and wildness from the mound, as he connected for a two-run single to push the score to 7-0.

In the sixth, the Broncos showed signs of life when a bases-loaded single by Gabe Martinez pushed their first run across. With the based still loaded and Danny Hernandez up, Keatts induced an inning-ending fielders choice to get out of the jam.

“He was dominate,” Broncos coach Scott Benedict said about Keatts. “We did not get a guy passed second base until the sixth inning. He was good the first time we faced him in February, but he has gotten better. Hats off to him.”

Despite Keatts’ dominance, he did not act alone, as Walther finished the night 3-for-3 with a home run and a double.

“I work pretty much all day, every day on my hitting,” Walther said. “I usually sit on first-pitch fastball and try and adjust to the junk.”

Tuesday night, nothing got by the Warriors as they took the first leg of this two-game district series, but they know their work is not done as they stick to their motto.

“We work hard,” Mook said. “We know we control our own destiny. We can take it all if we want to, but have to go at each game like its 0-0.”

Leave a comment using your facebook account!