UNATEGO – In a game that remained scoreless through the first five innings, Unatego’s Dawson Wilsey took advantage of a Crimson Knight throwing error in bottom of the eighth to take the 2-1 win over Afton on Tuesday.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Spartans scored due to an error, putting the first run on the board for either team.
Afton’s catcher Vincent Caiati scored on a safety squeeze by teammate Zack Alford, tying the game a one run a piece.
As Unatego was unable to score in their final at-bats of regulation play, the game was forced to extra baseball.
In the top half of the eighth, Unatego’s Paul Slawon took the mound in relief and shut down Afton by throwing seven strikes, accumulating a strikeout while allowing one Crimson Knight to reach base with a hit. Unfortunately, that Afton runner was unable to score.
In the bottom of the inning, the Spartans were able to get runners on first and second base. Slawson helped his own cause to pick up the win on the mound by scoring the winning run from second on a tough for the Afton shortstop as he was unable to field the ball hit up the middle cleanly.
Crimson Knight Colin Nabinger pitched five 1/3 innings and had 12 strikeouts and four walks for Afton before Kyle Grover came on and finished in relief. Grover was scored with the loss.
Unatego’s starter Andrew Santobuono pitched seven innings, allowing one hit and a run with 13 strikeouts.
Caiati recorded two stolen bases while Nabinger added one in the loss.
The Crimson Knights are scheduled to face Bainbridge-Guilford on Friday at 4:30 p.m. while Unatego plays Unadilla Valley at home Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. Both games are subject to weather as rain is forecasted for both days.
Unatego 2, Afton 1
Afton 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 – 1 2 1
Unatego 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 – 2 2 3
Colin Nabinger, Kyle Grover (6, L) and Marshall. Andrew Santobuono, P. Slawson (W, 8) and Caiati.