AFTON – After both teams suffered tough losses in the first round of the MAC playoffs, the Afton Crimson Knights and the Bainbridge-Guilford Bobcats faced each other in the consolation round. Both teams showed strength and dueled it out until Afton won in the bottom of the ninth 5-4 off an RBI double from Justin Reeve.

Afton struck first as a run came home off a bases loaded walk and was limited in the next several innings. B-G tied the game in the third inning as Julian Pruskowski hit a triple with one out and then scored on an error made by the defense. The game remained tied after seven innings, sending it to extras.

In the eighth inning, both teams were still battling as they both scored two runs to send it to the ninth inning. B-G scored its two runs off a hit by pitch with the bases loaded and an RBI single from Ethan Beames. Afton tied it up in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single from Braydon Baciuska, which Justin Reeve also scored on with the ball still being in play.

B-G scored in the top of the ninth inning as Damon Seymour scored on a passed ball with two outs, but the Bobcats could not hold the Crimson Knights on their turn at-bat. Hunter Baciuska reached on an error and advanced to third with two outs. He scored on an RBI single from Matt Carman before Justin Reeve sent Carman home on deep ball to right field.

Ryan Wright started the game for the Crimson Knights and went eight innings with 17 strikeouts. Braydon Baciuska earned the win in relief in the ninth inning.

For the Bobcats, Julian Pruskowski went 7.1 innings, striking out 10 batters. Kaiden Seymour pitched the remainder of the contest and took the loss.

Both teams will likely have one game left before Sectionals. B-G heads to Sidney on Saturday at 11 a.m. while Afton’s next opponent is undecided.

Box Score:

Runs by Inning: R H E

B-G:

0-0-1-0-0-0-0-2-1 4 6 2

AFT:

1-0-0-0-0-0-0-2-2 5 8 3

Other scores from Thursday, May 11:

BASEBALL:

Norwich falls to Oneonta 3-1 in the final regular season home game. Oneonta took an early 1-0 lead and added on with two more runs in the fourth inning. Norwich scored their lone run in the bottom of the fifth inning off an error. Kaden Downey led Norwich with two hits while Colin Olds had one in the loss. Norwich plays its final game of the 2023 season on Monday at Unatego at 4 p.m.

SOFTBALL:

Norwich suffers 25-0 loss to Owego in five innings. Haley Beckwith had Norwich’s only hit in the bottom of the fourth inning. Maddy Quattrocchi struck out four batters in the loss. Norwich plays Marathon this afternoon before the final game of the season on Monday at Johnson City at 5:30 p.m.