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Boone hits two homers in final two innings, drives in seven to lift Avon to win

Will Boone hit two home runs including a grand slam to beat Bristol Central.

AVON, May 23 – It’s been a frustrating season for the Avon High baseball team. Two years ago, the Falcons went to the Class L semifinals. A year ago, they had a fine season, winning 14 games.

No one expected just five victories this season for the Falcons. There were some tough losses this season on the diamond including back-to-back one-run losses to Hall and Southington in early May.

But Avon ended the season on a high note Wednesday under splendid blue skies at Buckingham Field. The Falcons rallied from a six-run deficit, rapped out eight of their 10 hits in the final two innings and beat Bristol Central, 7-6.

Senior Will Boone was the star. He had a pair of home runs in the sixth and seventh innings, including a game-winning grand slam. He drove in all seven runs for the Falcons (5-15) and was 3-for-4 at the plate with the two home runs and a double.

Bristol Central and pitcher Alex Balfour were cruising for five innings. Balfour allowed only two hits and struck four. The Rams (7-12) led 6-0 as Avon came to bat in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Jake Coppen led off the winning with a single for the Falcons but was thrown out at second base on a fielder’s choice hit by Miles Borenstein. Ryan Ollestad singled to put two runners on base when Boone hit a three-run home run to right field to cut the lead to 6-3. Avon had five hits in the inning and stranded two runners on base.

In the seventh, Chris Angus led off the inning for Avon with a single. Coppen struck out but Borenstein singled to left field. Ollestad walked to load the bases. Boone won the game with a grand slam over the centerfield fence.

Avon pitcher Daniel Bae pitched two innings of shutout relief, allowing just one hit and not walking a batter. He picked up the victory to improve to 1-2 on the year.

For Bristol Central, Steve Warkowski was 3-for-4 with two RBI while Ryan Rodriguez was 2-for-4 with two doubles. The Rams can earn a spot in the Class L tournament with a win over Platt on Wednesday.

Avon High coach Marty deLivron has been with the baseball program for 40 years. Wednesday was his final day in the dugout with the Falcons.

It was the final game in the dugout for long-time coach Marty deLivron. He was the head coach of the Avon baseball team from 1978 through 2014, compiling a record of 483-256. He led the Falcons to 10 North Central Connecticut Conference titles and a pair of Northwest Conference Division II crowns.

For the past four years, he has been an assistant coach under head coach Jon Yolles – keeping the scorebook and providing counsel and advice when needed.

The Falcons missed the CIAC tournament for the first time since 2006 and had the fewest wins in a season since 1993 when Avon posted a record of 7-12.

Avon 7, Bristol Central 6
At Avon
Bristol Central (7-12)         020  130  0  — 6-10-1
Avon (5-15)                          000  003  4  — 7-10-0
Alex Balfour and unknown; Will Boone, Jake Coppen (5), Daniel Bae (6) and Ryan Ollestad; WP: Bae (1-2); LP: Balfour; 2B: Ryan Rodriguez (BC) 2, Will Boone (A); HR: Boone (A) 2

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

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