AFTON – The Crimson Knights baseball team used batting in one game and pitching in the other to win their last two games in the mini-MAC tournament they played in on Friday and Monday.
Afton faced a slight scare by Sidney in the seventh inning Monday afternoon but held onto their early lead to win 12-8.
The Warriors started the big offensive frame with a single by Nic Paternoster. Later on the in the inning, Paternoster was the first run to score during the eight run, one out rally.
The Crimson Knights’ closed the game out to prevent any further runs by the Warriors with relief pitcher Tyler King forcing one batter into an infield fly out and Damion Relyea making his batter ground out into a fielder’s choice.
The Afton offense came to play as they tallied seven runs in their first trip to the plate.
Relyea reached the base paths with a first-pitch, lead-off single to kick-off the Knights hefty offensive inning. He then stole third, putting himself into scoring position. His teammate Colin Nabinger saw the RBI opportunity and took advantage of it as he sent a line drive to left field, scoring Relyea.
Vince Caiati singled in his first at-bat, moving more Crimson Knights into scoring position. Two batters later, Brady Buttice hit a hard ground ball to right field, sending King and Nabinger across the plate to make the socre 3-0.
On pitch after Buttice’s hit, Kyle Grover went the opposite direction, driving in Caiati to tack another run on the scoreboard for Afton. The Crimson Knights continued the small ball strategy to score another two runs in the inning.
Afton added one run in the second and fourth before ending their romp with another three runs in the fifth.
Brody Oleksak started on the hill for the Crimson Knights, lasting six and a third innings. He surrendered just four hits and seven runs while striking out five. Relyea recorded the save after picking up the final out, ending the Warriors run.
Donte Scott took the loss for Sidney. He surrendered eight runs on nine hits over two innings, striking out three.
Relyea, Nabinger, and Caiati each picked up three hits to lead Afton at the plate. As a team, the Crimson Knights stole 11 bases during the game. Caiati led the way with five.
On Friday, Greene and Afton entered into a pitcher’s dual but the Crimson Knights stole a two run victory from the Trojans, winning 3-1.
Afton got on the scoreboard first in the second inning as Grover hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Caiati. The Knights scored another run in the fifth and six innings for a 3-0 lead.
In their final trip to plate, the Trojans drew two walks against Nabinger, who started on the mound for Afton.
After a pitching change by the Crimson Knights, Quinton Pezzino stepped up for his at-bat, the fifth batter of the inning and lined a shot to left field, scoring Kolby Finch for Greene’s only run of the contest.
