The Afton Crimson Knights softball team fell short to Cherry Valley-Springfield/Sharon Springs in a heart-breaker 7-6 in the second round of the Section IV, Class D tournament. Good season, Crimson Knights. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

AFTON – The Afton Crimson Knights softball team received a bye as the second seed for the first round of the Section IV, Class D tournament after a strong regular season. On Tuesday, the Crimson Knights hosted seventh seeded Cherry Valley-Springfield/Sharon Springs, where both teams went back-and-forth in scoring and the Patriots came away with the 7-6 victory.

After Cherry Valley-Springfield/Sharon Springs took a 1-0 lead off a two-base error, the Crimson Knights tied it as Kathleen Charette had a one out single to right field, stole second, and advanced to third on an error. Afton loaded the bases with back-to-back walks, where Charette came in to score on a wild pitch.

The Patriots made it 3-1 on a two-run, two-out single. During the inning, Afton was able to get two quick outs, including a great play by Mckenna Ross in right field throwing the runner out for trying to advance to second on a single.

Afton tied the game at three in the bottom of the second inning as Arianna Florance reached on a one-out walk, Jenna Wilson on a bunt that resulted on a reach by error. Both came in to score on a two-run double by Makenna Schultz. The game stayed 3-3 until the top of the fifth inning as Cherry Valley-Springfield/Sharon Springs added four more runs.