Afton stretches sectional title run to 16
BINGHAMTON – For more than a decade and a half, Afton has reigned as the best Class D team in Section IV. A pair of early-season losses gave way to the Crimson Knights’ typical brand of play, and they won their 16th straight sectional title Saturday at the BAGSAI Complex blanking Deposit, 4-0.
Seventh-grader Cassidy Phillips pitched a one-hit shutout victory for Afton (17-4) striking out six, who aim to defend their 2009 state championship.
“We’ve made tremendous strides,” said Afton coach Cindy Bostelman of her team’s progress since game one. “We took some tough losses to Sidney and Greene, and then we went south to play. We got our act together and realized we needed to change some things.”
Afton strung 15 wins in a row together, dropped a tough loss to Greene in the MAC league title game, but steamrolled into the sectional finals beating the Lumberjacks for the third time this season.
The Knights, after going in order the first two innings, put all four of their runs on the board in the third. Brittney Patten and Nicole Mulieri singled to start the inning. Carolyn Elllis – pinch-running for Patten – and Mulieri scored on Holly Andrews’ drive to right-center that was scored as an error. Stephanie Sherman singled to score Andrews, and after another Deposit error, Sherman came home on Stephanie Parsons’ fielder’s choice. Deposit made three of its four errors in the inning leading to three runs.
“We were able to string together some things and made it happen,” Bostelman said. “We had a couple times in the game where we had runners in scoring position and didn’t score. We need to make things happen (in those situations).”
Deposit’s best chance – and only chance – to score came in the fourth. McKenzie Martin led off with a single and moved to second on an outfield error. She advanced to third after a stolen base. Hannah Freyer then grounded out to Afton shortstop Jessie Winans, who threw in time to Patten at first. On the throw, Martin broke for home. Patten fired to Afton catcher Taylor Briggs, who tagged out Martin for the second out of the inning. Only one batter over the final three innings so much as put the ball out of the infield as Phillips faced the minimum of 21 batters for a seven-inning game.
“I couldn’t ask for any more out of our defense,” Bostelman said. “The play at the plate had to be the biggest play of the game. We don’t make that play, it’s a 4-1 game, and maybe there’s a change in momentum. Making those momentum-breakers makes all the difference.”
Six different Afton players had basehits, although Parsons reached base safely in all three appearances singling and reaching twice on errors.
Score by Innings R H E
Dep. 000 000 0 0 1 4
Aft. 004 000 x 4 6 1
Cassidy Phillips (W) and Taylor Briggs. Melissa Martin (L) and Chelsea Russell.
Seventh-grader Cassidy Phillips pitched a one-hit shutout victory for Afton (17-4) striking out six, who aim to defend their 2009 state championship.
“We’ve made tremendous strides,” said Afton coach Cindy Bostelman of her team’s progress since game one. “We took some tough losses to Sidney and Greene, and then we went south to play. We got our act together and realized we needed to change some things.”
Afton strung 15 wins in a row together, dropped a tough loss to Greene in the MAC league title game, but steamrolled into the sectional finals beating the Lumberjacks for the third time this season.
The Knights, after going in order the first two innings, put all four of their runs on the board in the third. Brittney Patten and Nicole Mulieri singled to start the inning. Carolyn Elllis – pinch-running for Patten – and Mulieri scored on Holly Andrews’ drive to right-center that was scored as an error. Stephanie Sherman singled to score Andrews, and after another Deposit error, Sherman came home on Stephanie Parsons’ fielder’s choice. Deposit made three of its four errors in the inning leading to three runs.
“We were able to string together some things and made it happen,” Bostelman said. “We had a couple times in the game where we had runners in scoring position and didn’t score. We need to make things happen (in those situations).”
Deposit’s best chance – and only chance – to score came in the fourth. McKenzie Martin led off with a single and moved to second on an outfield error. She advanced to third after a stolen base. Hannah Freyer then grounded out to Afton shortstop Jessie Winans, who threw in time to Patten at first. On the throw, Martin broke for home. Patten fired to Afton catcher Taylor Briggs, who tagged out Martin for the second out of the inning. Only one batter over the final three innings so much as put the ball out of the infield as Phillips faced the minimum of 21 batters for a seven-inning game.
“I couldn’t ask for any more out of our defense,” Bostelman said. “The play at the plate had to be the biggest play of the game. We don’t make that play, it’s a 4-1 game, and maybe there’s a change in momentum. Making those momentum-breakers makes all the difference.”
Six different Afton players had basehits, although Parsons reached base safely in all three appearances singling and reaching twice on errors.
Score by Innings R H E
Dep. 000 000 0 0 1 4
Aft. 004 000 x 4 6 1
Cassidy Phillips (W) and Taylor Briggs. Melissa Martin (L) and Chelsea Russell.
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