Evening Sun Report

CHENANGO BRIDGE – Afton bore little resemblance to the team that suffered an unlikely divisional defeat earlier this week.

The Crimson Knights, perennial Midstate Athletic Conference contenders and 14-time defending Section IV champions, atoned for not only that loss to Deposit on Monday, but evened the score with Greene winning the MAC softball championship game Wednesday at Chenango Bridge Elementary School, 7-1.

Jessie Winans had three of the Crimson Knights’ eight basehits and scored three runs. She also played flawless defense at shortstop snapping up any ball that was within range.

Ashley Winans, who was on the short end of a 4-2 loss to Greene back in April, showed her improvement striking out eight, walking one, and allowing just four hits. She took a no-hitter into the fifth inning, and was in command most of the game.

“She shut our bats down today,” said Greene coach Rick Smith, whose club’s mark fell to 15-4 on the season. “I’ve seen Ashley pitch two other times since we first played them, and today she was a lot better. She had more pop on the ball and she spotted the ball.”

The top half of Afton’s batting order did almost all of the damage to Greene each time through the lineup. Stephanie Sherman’s drag bunt to start the game set the tone, and immediately Holly Andrews put Sherman in scoring position with a perfect sacrifice bunt. Jessie Winans walked and Ashley Winans scored the first run with a fielder’s choice. Stephanie Parsons’ single made it a 2-0 lead, enough runs for the Knights as it turned out.

Afton’s method of operation worked to perfection: Get a runner on base, and advance at every opportunity. Be it a stolen base, a passed ball, an error by the Greene defense or taking an extra base on a missed cut-off throw, the Crimson Knights made the most of their scoring chances.