KEY WEST -- How do you explain it? More to the point, how did it happen? A six-run lead going into the seventh inning and its pitcher cruising along. And, yet, Key West High School loses to Westminster Christian, 12-10.

Westminster coach Emil Castellanos called Friday afternoon's loss at Marathon "a nightmare I want to forget." But, he should have had sweet dreams as he slept at his team's Key West motel Saturday night, while it would have been Key West coach Miguel Menendez having the nightmares.

After two big innings -- a five-run third and a four-run sixth, Key West took a 10-4 lead into the seventh inning. Conch starting pitcher J.P. Malott, after giving up three runs in the first inning, seemed to have settled down, allowing only a run in the third.

Then, came the seventh and Malott struck out the leadoff hitter. The next nine Warrior batters reached base, albeit one was on a forceout. Stephen Fernandez homered deep over the right field fence. David Thompson hit his second run of the game -- this one to straightaway centerfield. So, Menendez went to his bullpen -- or rather to shortstop -- bringing in Mikey Abreau to shut the door. Abreau has had an outstanding season as a relief pitcher, but, as Menendez allowed after the game, Abreau didn't have it on this night.

A single to right, an error by third baseman John Montsalvatge, another single to right, a walk, a third single to right and the Conchs still led, 10-8. A grounder to second for a forceout with another run scoring and it was, 10-9.

Menendez said that at that point, he still thought Abreau would get out of the jam. But, he didn't. The next hitter, leadoff batter Jamoel Middlebrook hadn't had a hit all night. In fact, he was the one Malott struck out to begin the inning. This time, he made up for all of it. He crushed a ball over the fence scoring a pair of runners ahead of him and now Westminster led, 12-10. The next batter popped up to short and it was Key West's turn to try to rally.

Although the Conchs (now 6-7) had one of their best hitting nights of the season, they couldn't get at least two more runs. Freddy Varela singled with one out, but Tommy Ruffenach forced him at second and Abreau ended it by grounding out to third.

Key West started the first against righthander John Antonelli, as if they were still in the tight game they had lost the night before. Antonelli struck out D.J. Lomina, Joey Gandolfo and Michael Arencibia in order, all swinging at a third strike.

In the third, though, the Conchs batted around against Antonelli with doubles by Gandolfo and Nolan Thomas and a triple by Montsalvatge. The three hits, along with a walk, an error and a hit batsman were good for five runs. In the fourth, Abreau singled and eventually scored on Gandolfo's second of three hits.

In the sixth, Varela homered over the 360-foot sign in right, Abreau doubled, Elomina singled, Gandolfo singled, Arencibia singled (after striking out three times) and Thomas reached on an error. Coupled with another error, the Conchs scored four runs and it appeared the game was theirs. It wasn't.

Antonelli, who went the first four innings for the Warriors (now 11-3), is the grand-nephew of Johnny Antonelli, a pitcher mainly for the New York and San Francisco Giants in the 1950s.

"I've never met him, I'm not named after him, but I do have about a dozen of his baseball cards," said the senior, who had already been accepted to Florida State, Purdue, Elon and Clemson and is awaiting word from Notre Dame and William and Mary, the latter which is looking at him for his baseball ability, according to his mother, Debbie.

His older sister, Jenny, is a cheerleader at Notre Dame and his older brother, Chris, plays baseball at Purdue, but was able to see him pitch Saturday night.

"'John' was just a name we liked, explained his mother, who said young John's father has talked to the former pitcher by telephone.

Key West gets back in District 16-4A action at 4 p.m., Tuesday, at Mater Academy.

rmorrow@keysnews.com