GREENE – For the third time this season, the Afton Crimson Knights and the Greene Trojans duked it out on the diamond. The first two were filled with drama and close games––and Wednesday’s game proved to be no different.

The Trojans erased four of the five runs need to tie Afton in the sixth. With the bottom of the seventh their last chance to score one run to even the score – or two to win – the Crimson Knights defense held on for the win.

Greene saw Logan Pixley send a line drive to left field for a single. However, one batter later, Quinton Pezzino grounded into a fielder’s choice and Pixley was out at second.

Pezzino was then at first with his teammate Nick Shoemaker stepping to the plate, facing two outs in the inning. Shoemaker drew a walk from Afton’s pitcher Kyle Grover and now two Trojans were on base.

Greene’s Trenton Rapp had an opportunity to drive one or both of the baserunners in. All that was needed was one good hit to the outfield.

On the mound, Grover was thinking otherwise. Firing in a strike on the first pitch, Grover wanted the game over. Rapp took the next two pitches for balls, making the count 2-1. A hitters count, Grover went back and threw another strike with Rapp looking.

Now facing a 2-2 count, the at-bat was down to its last strike. Grover sent the pitch to Rapp, who took a nice cut at the ball but missed and the ball went into the catcher’s glove to end the game.

Greene led 3-0 after the first but Afton was able respond and pick up the big lead after scoring four runs in the top of the second and fourth innings.

The Crimson Knights were led by Tyler King at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBI singles. King finished the day with two RBIs. The same was true for his teammates Damion Relyea and Zack Alford.

Vince Caiati had double in one his two at-bats for the afternoon, the only extra-base hit of the contest by either team.

Trojans’ Alec Frair, Brandyn Scott and Pixley each recorded two hits and Scott ended the day with two runner batted in.

Getting start on the mound for Afton was Antonio Derrigo. Picking up the win, Derrigo went three innings and allowed four hits while striking out two. Ernie Cutting, Alford and Grover all came in on relief, splitting the work for the other four innings of the game. Grover was recorded with the save.

Noah Kennedy started on the hill for the Trojans. In his two inning of work, Kennedy picked up four strike outs while surrendering three hits.

Also going to their bullpen was Greene as they also saw Kolby Finch, Rapp and Shoemaker toe the rubber for the remaining innings of the contest. Kennedy was recorded as the losing pitcher.

Afton’s first game of the Section IV tournament will be against Downsville at 4:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon. The Crimson Knights will host the Class D first-round game.

The Trojans end their 2018 season with a record of 4-11.