Monday, June 10, 2002
Indians cruise to semifinal victory
By Mike Neagle
Contributing Writer
UNIONDALE — Four Afton players had two hits, including Kris Kelly who homered in the seventh, to pace the Indians to a 7-1 victory over Section Nine's Chapel Field Saturday morning in a New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D semifinal at Mitchel Field.
Afton went on to a 2-1, 9-inning triumph over Fort Ann in the final later that afternoon to capture its second consecutive state crown.
Junior pitcher Jessie Page, who no-hit Chapel Field in last year's 8-0 state championship game victory without a walk or a strikeout, allowed three hits, a walk and struck out two to earn the victory.
Losing pitcher Julie Schaper added to her state record for most strikeouts in a season. The sophomore struck out nine Indians to boost her total to 308, but also allowed 11 hits — six for extra bases — and two walks.
Afton took a one-run lead in the first after Brigitte Hansen (2-for-4) and Kelly (2-for-3) hit back-to-back two-out doubles.
The Lions (22-5) answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on Stacy Kuperus' sacrifice fly.
Page gave up one more hit the rest of the way and set down 18 of the last 20 batters she faced, including the last seven in a row.
The Indians went ahead for good in the fourth. Ashley Manderville scored Afton's second run after a fielding error, Heather Sines had an RBI single and Renee Kemmerer (2-for-4) hit a run-scoring double.
In the sixth inning, Kemmerer drove in Afton's fifth run with a two-out single to cap an 11-pitch at-bat.
Kelly homered to left to lead off the seventh and Lindsey Page (2-for-3) capped the scoring with an RBI double.
Other than Afton the last two seasons, the Lions have not lost to a Class D team since 1999.
AFTON 7, CHAPEL FIELD 1
Jessie Page (W) and Ashley Sherman. Julie Schaper (L) and Amanda Lalumiere. 2B - Lindsey Page (A) 2, Brigitte Hansen (A), Kris Kelly (A), Renee Kemmerer (A), Schaper (CF). HR - Kelly (A). E - Hansen (A), Megan Klussman (CF), Laura Bast (CF). LOB - Afton 8, Chapel Field 4. SB - Ashley Manderville (A) 2, Heather Sines (A). Sac - Stacy Kuperus (CF). Time - 1:40.
