Afton’s Ryan Wright steals two bases and drives in three runs at the plate and pitches a two-hitter through five innings in the 7-0 win over Schenevus. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

AFTON – The Afton Crimson Knights baseball team welcomed Schenevus for the opening round of the Section IV, Class D tournament on Monday. Both teams squared off once before during Afton’s big win-streak, where Afton earned the 8-1 win in the beginning of May. This time was the real deal, which Afton had a steady lead throughout and strong pitching in the 7-0 shutout win.

Afton got on the board in the first two innings. Justin Reeve drove in a pair on a single as Ryan Wright, who was solid at the plate and on the mound, had a two-run single in the second. Wright finished with two hits, three RBIs, and stole two bases. Braydon Baciuska drove in a run on an RBI double to make it 3-0 Crimson Knights. Baciuska also had two hits and two RBIs.

Afton plated two additional runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI triple by Wright and a RBI single from Baciuska. Tim Barnett, Johnathan Crosby, and Cooper Warren also provided hits for Afton in the win.

Wright and Baciuska split time on the mound with Wright going five strong innings, just allowing two hits, a walk, and struck out 10 batters. Baciuska allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out three batters in two innings of work. Both had help from catcher Matt Carman, who caught two runners stealing in the fifth and sixth inning.