AFTON – Unadilla Valley trailed the Crimson Knights 6-4 before their at-bats in the top of the sixth inning. The Storm hitters then brought the thunder, scoring five runs in the sixth and tacking on another four in the seventh to top Afton 13-7 on Tuesday.
UV’s Tim Postma started the big sixth inning with a single. His teammate Brandon Kneale hit another single and Drew Emrich walked to full the bases.
With a 3-1 count in his trip to the plate, Andrew Jackson saw another ball to send him to first and Matt Hine, who was in for Postma as a pinch runner, cross home plate for the first run of the inning.
Cameron Osborne hit a hard ground ball to the shortstop who was unable to field it cleanly, resulting in an error. The miscue sent Kneale and Emrich home and Unadilla Valley took their first lead of the game.
Teddy Postma drew the third walk of the inning, loading the bases again for the Storm. Adam Lamont hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Jackson.
One batter later, Colby Moore lined a shot to right field to bring home Osborne for UV’s final run scored.
Afton tacked on one run in the first three innings before adding three in the bottom of the fourth for their largest offensive producing frame.
Kyle Grover’s single to center field kicked off the fourth. His teammate Zach Alford moved Grover up to second with his sacrifice bunt. Damion Relyea grounded out, recording the second out of the inning but Grover again advanced to third.
Tyler King stepped to the plate for his at-bat with Grover in scoring position and blasted the ball over the left field fence for a two-run home run.
Later in the inning, Vince Caiati scored when Colin Nabinger hit a deep fly ball to right field, making the score 6-2.
The Crimson Knights attempted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh when Grover knocked a line drive into center field, bringing Brady Buttice across home plate for one run.
However, two batters later, Relyea lined out to Jackson at shortstop. Jackson then fired the ball to Lamont in time to get Grover for the game ending double-play.
Osborne and Lamont racked up the RBIs for the Storm, picking up four each. Tim Postma added two more.
Jackson went 2-for-3 on the day with Lamont recording two hits in four trips to the plate, one of his hits being the only extra-base hit for UV.
In the Afton loss, Nabinger went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two doubles. King matched his RBI total on two hits in three at-bats.
“We just kept playing solid baseball for seven innings,” said Storm head coach Matt Osborne. “[Isaiah] Carkuff did a great job on the mound for four innings while Jackson and Osborne finished the game strong for us. I’m very proud of how our young guys kept their composure in the last two innings.”
The road win is the second UV win of the season.
Afton takes on Oxford at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday in a game that was originally scheduled for Thursday, May 3 but was postponed due to weather. Unadilla Valley heads to the MAC Conference mini tournament and awaits for their next game to be determined.
Unadilla Valley 13, Afton 7
UV 0 0 0 2 2 5 4 – 13 10 2
Afton 1 1 1 3 0 0 1 – 7 12 2
Isaiah Carkoff, Andrew Jackson (W,5), Cameron Osborne (7). Antonio Derrigo, Damion Relyea (L, 5), Brody Oleksak (6), Tyler King (7).
Doubles: (UV) Adam Lamont; (A) Colin Nabinger (2), Damion Relyea.
HR: (A) Tyer King.