High school baseball: Keystone's Ryan Younglas throws one-hitter in win over Black River

LAGRANGE — For the second time this year, Keystone pitching dominated Black River, but with much better results. Three weeks ago, the Wildcats threw a combined no-hitter against Black River, but lost 4-3. On Monday night, the Pirates managed a hit but only got one runner to third in losing 7-0 to Keystone in a Lorain County League baseball game. The loss leaves Black River (10-5, 8-1 LCL) and the Wildcats (9-5, 7-1) with one loss each in conference play with about three weeks left in the regular season. "I've coached 350-some games and I don't ever remember throwing a combined no-hitter and losing a game, that's baseball for you," Wildcats coach Bert Fitzgerald said. "We came out today and played total team baseball. (Starting pitcher) Ryan (Younglas) led us on the mound and the guys kept getting it done at the plate. That's what we are looking for." Younglas dominated from the start, allowing just one hit while walking three and striking out 11. He changed speeds and the batters' eye level to keep Black River off balance. "It's great to feel that we are in the driver's seat now in the conference," Younglas said. "I feel like we should be able to push through the rest of the regular season and get the job done." Keystone leadoff batter Shane Ohl set the tone for the game by smashing an 0-2 pitch to the fence in deep left for a triple and then came home on a wild pitch for a quick 1-0 lead before the second batter of the Wildcats lineup finished his plate appearance. Blake Moore followed with a single, went to third on an errant pick-off throw to first and then came home on a sacrifice fly to left by Younglas, who finished with three hits. After another 1-2-3 inning for the Pirates, Keystone added another three runs in the second as Brendan Hagerman scored on a wild pitch after being hit by a pitch and Ohl picked up his second hit with a single through the right side. Moore came to the plate and smoked a 3-1 pitch deep over the left-field fence to give the Wildcats a commanding 5-0 lead. "That start felt really good, we felt we were the better team from the start, and we just had a terrible game when we played at their place," Moore said. "We came into this game hot with Shane (Ohl) hitting that triple and we just kept it going in the second inning." Dozier Hendershot drew a walk to start the third for the Pirates and after a stolen base and a ground ball to second for the second out, he became the only Pirates runner to reach third as the inning ended with another grounder to Quinn Otto at second. After getting out of that inning, Younglas struck out five of the next six Black River batters with a sliding hit-robbing catch made by Moore in right field off the bat of Hunter Mate. Freshman Dom Bell finally picked up the first hit of the season for the Pirates against the 'Cats with one out in the sixth on a ground ball deep to short and beat the throw at first. Younglas went on to get out of the inning and set Black River down in order in the seventh to move into a first-place tie at the top of the LCL. "The first time we played, it wasn't their game, and we got them, and it was kind of the opposite in the game today," Pirates coach Jake O'Connor said. "(Keystone) came out of the get-go hitting the ball and we helped out as well throwing the ball around. "It's hard to win many games when you only have one hit. Hats off to Keystone."