For Keystone West, it was simply too little, too late.

Despite a spirited rally over the final innings, Keystone West came up just short in its opening game of the 2014 Pennsylvania 16-19 Senior Babe Ruth State Tournament, falling to Bucks County 5-4.The co-host of this year's event was in an early hole after Bucks County scored one run in the first two innings, capitalizing on several Keystone errors, to take a 2-0 lead."We believe in our offense, and we believe that our pitching is going to keep us in the game at all times," said Bucks coach Ken Irwin. "At some point, we're probably going to have that game where we start slow. But we believe that once we get going, we're going to be able to score runs."The visitors looked primed to blow the game open in the third, as Robert Knox, Pat Reilly and Brennan Snyder opened the inning with three consecutive doubles, with all eventually coming around to score to give Bucks a commanding 5-0 lead.But Keystone reliever Zach Rex came on in the fourth and worked three solid innings of two-hit ball. Luke Stawick entered in the seventh, allowing only a walk while also working around an error."We got a great three innings out of him to keep the door closed," Keystone coach Donnie Rehrig said of Rex. "In a tournament like this, where you're playing four games in as many days, you need to conserve arms. He did a phenomenal job of keeping us in it."As Keystone's pitching seemed to get stronger over the course of the game, so too did its offense. After being held to just two hits by Bucks' starter Ed Decker over the first three innings, the home team put together five hits over the final four frames.Frank Nietz, who finished 2-for-4, opened the fourth with a double. James Farano followed by reaching first and going to second on two Bucks' errors, as Nietz came around to score. Farano eventually came around to score on a wild pitch to make it 5-2.Keystone appeared to have Decker on his heels in the sixth, as Farano and Vince Mele drew walks to put runners on first and second with one out. Jordan McElmoyle, who went 2-for-2, knocked in Farano. Brady Niehoff followed with a single that loaded the bases, and Thatcher David worked the count to draw a walk that scored Mele to make it 5-4.But Keystone's rally ended when pinch-hitter Kyle Troch popped out and McElmoyle was gunned down trying to score from third, allowing Bucks to preserve its 5-4 lead.Keystone had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh, as Nietz started the inning with an infield single. He stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch with two-outs.But Keystone wasn't able to capitalize on the opportunity, as Stawick, who went 2-for-4, struck out to end the game."We had the tying run on third base with our No. 4 hitter up and I have a lot of confidence in him," Rehrig said of the situation. "That was a tough pitch that he took. But that's where the zone was all night."Despite the loss, Rehrig was pleased with his team's resolve."There are no moral victories, but I like the way that we fought back," he said. "It's a state tournament, so there are obviously some nerves and other things you're thinking about. But we battled and I'm happy with the way we finished the game."Keystone West won't have to wait long to get back on the field in the double-elimination tournament as it will face the loser of this afternoon's game between Pine Forge and Keystone East at 7:30 p.m. tonight.Bucks County 113 000 0 - 5 9 3Keystone West 000 202 0 - 4 7 5Decker, Smoot (6) and Moyer; Stano, Rex (4), Stawick (7) and David. W - Decker. L - Stano. S - Smoot.