1-hitter puts Kingston in AA title game

Kingston High is back into the Section 9, Class AA baseball title game after the Tigers beat Roosevelt 3-0.

Jeff Hayner pitched a one-hit shutout Saturday, propelling Kingston High back into the Section 9, Class AA baseball championship game as the Tigers beat Roosevelt 3-0 in the semifinals at Gruner Field.

Kingston will try to defend its title 5 p.m. Sunday at Cantine Field against Valley Central, which knocked off Warwick 9-6.

Hayner struck out nine against the reigning Mid-Hudson Athletic League champions and and came very close to throwing his second no-hitter of the season. The senior left-hander threw a perfect game on May 9 at Middletown.

Roosevelt’s only hit was Bryan Scheiner’s leadoff bunt single in the fourth.

Fritz Genther staked Hayner to a lead, driving in Avery Short and Sam Tremper with a two-out double in the first inning.

Kingston added another run in the sixth. Tyler Kelder reached on an error and reached third on a

steal and throwing error. Jake McNutt, a postseason junior varsity call-up, doubled him home.

Kingston edged Monroe-Woodbury 2-1 for the AA crown last year. It was the Tigers’ seventh championship in the last 16

years and their first since winning the state title in 2012.

Because of a first-round bye plus a two-day delay because of rain and poor field conditions, Saturday’s semifinal was Kingston’s first game in nine days.