AFTON – Good thing G-MU has a short memory.

The Raiders were bludgeoned by Afton and Cherry Valley-Springfield at the end of the regular season by a combined 29-10. One week into the playoff season, G-MU has avenged both of those losses, and beat number three seeded Afton, 7-3, to reach the Section IV, Class D semifinals.

“I’ve been coaching 20 years, and I think we’ve beaten Afton maybe one time, but never in the playoffs,” said G-MU skipper Jim Johnson.

G-MU dropped three of four games entering the postseason, one of those defeats a 16-6 loss to the Crimson Knights. In that contest, the Raiders’ pitching staff struggled to get Afton hitters out. Friday, G-MU senior hurler Alex Schmidt consistently worked out of jams, and in 6 1-3 innings, had just one one-two-three inning. He struck out six, walked four, and gave up seven hits in a clutch performance.

“The first time we played them, we pitched our third and fourth guys most of the game,” said G-MU catcher Corin Todd. “It was good to get a feel for their batters, and we knew they had good hitters.”

Todd said that Schmidt worked the corners with his fastball, and mixed in a curveball to keep Afton’s hitters off balance. “Their pitcher did a great job with what he had, and he kept his team in the game,” said Afton coach Ron Rapp.