After splitting a pair of games over the weekend, the Key West High baseball team is set to embark on one of the most crucial stretches of its season beginning today.

The Conchs, who topped Mater Academy on Friday and then fell to visiting Russell County (Ala.) on Saturday night, will hit the road for only the second time this season this afternoon to take on District 16-4A foe Westland-Hialeah. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30. After today's game, the Conchs will return home to take on district rival Belen on Friday, state power Westminster Christian on Saturday, and then travel to Mater Academy for another key district matchup on March 23.

Despite the loss Saturday, Key West (5-5, 1-0) will enter the stretch riding some momentum.

The Conchs took a thrilling 4-3 win over Mater on Friday in a game that won't count toward the district records or seedings due to this year's limit of just one district game against each district opponent. Still, coach Miguel Menendez and his players wanted to send a message to the Lions, who are projected to be one of three teams -- along with Belen and Key West -- battling for the district's two playoff spots.

Key West fell behind, 3-0, in the first inning against Mater, but rallied back with three runs in the fourth and another in the fifth -- all with two outs -- to claim the victory. Nolan Thomas, Johnny Monsalvatge and Freddy Varela each hit RBI singles in the win, and Michael Abreu knocked in a run with an RBI double.

Abreu's RBI in the fourth surely helped alleviate some frustration for the first-year shortstop after the sophomore committed four errors in the first two innings.

"We kicked the ball around like I've never seen before," Menendez said after the game. "I don't think I've ever seen a shortstop make four errors in basically an inning, but we bounced back from it and he came back and played well after that."

The most promising sign the team took from the game, however, was the pitching performance of junior J.P. Malott. The right-hander tossed his first career complete game and struck out seven batters against just seven hits.

"That's the best game he's thrown in his three years at Key West High School," Menendez said. "I know he was ready to go."

The Conchs didn't fare as well against visiting Russell County, as their seventh-inning rally attempt fell just short. They loaded the bases with one out after trailing 3-0 entering the final frame, but could only plate two runs. D.J. Elomina and Nolan Thomas, who had a quality start on the mound, each had two hits in the loss and Michael Arencibia executed a perfect bunt single in the seventh to extend his hitting streak to eight games.

Thomas gave up three runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts in six innings of work against the Warriors.

The Conchs figure to be considerable favorites today against the Wildcats, who are 1-1 in district play and are in just their program's second season. Key West swept the two-game series with Westland last year, winning 11-0 in Hialeah and 11-1 at Rex Weech Field.

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Also in action this week, the Marathon and Coral Shores JV baseball teams play this afternoon at 4 p.m. While the Hurricanes tennis teams take on Mater Academy at Goodlet Hialeah Park.

On Tuesday, the varsity baseball Dolphins get back into District 16-2A play at Westwood Christian and Coral Shores is at South Dade

The Lady Dolphins softball team hopes to rebound off a loss to Key West and travel to Ransom, while the Lady 'Canes are at St. Brendan.

The Key West High track team returns to Belen Jesuit this week for a tri-meet also against Ransom Everglades.

Key West High softball is back on the road at Miami Central on Wednesday.

The Marathon and Island Chrisitan JV softball teams will also face off on Thursday.