Avon Legion rallies for another tournament win

BRISTOL, July 28 – Once again, the Avon American Legion baseball team erased a multi-run deficit to earn a win in the American Legion state tournament. Earlier this week, Post 201 rallied from a three-run deficit in the top of the ninth inning to beat Middletown and earn a spot in the final 16, double-elimination portion of the state tournament.

On Saturday, Avon (22-8) erased a four-run deficit by scoring three runs in the fourth and sixth innings to beat Oakville, 6-4 at Muzzy Field. Avon will now face either West Hartford or Orange Sunday at 3:30 p.m. at Muzzy Field.

Oakville (30-7) took a 4-0 lead off starter Brandon Feinberg in the second inning, sparked by a two-RBI single from catcher Mark Plourde. But Avon chipped away at the lead.

In the fourth inning, Connor Doyle led off with a double and scored on Cody Doyle’s one-out double to left field. Cody Doyle scored on Noah Hahn’s RBI single to right-center field to cut the lead to 4-2. Hahn scored on Jake Bryant’s RBI single to centerfield.

Avon took the lead in the sixth. Matt Koenig led off with a double to centerfield and scored on Cody Doyle’s single to tie the game at 4-4. Doyle took second on an error and scored on Hahn’s single to left field. Hahn stole second base and scored on George Nurisso’s sacrifice fly to right field for a 6-4 lead.

On the mound, Koenig pitched four strong innings, scattering four hits and striking out three. Oakville threatened in the eighth inning but Avon’s defense stood tall. Daniel Ouellette walked with two outs and David Cherry followed with an infield single. Plourde singled to centerfield but Avon’s Liam O’Connor threw out Ouellette at home plate to end the inning. He was trying to score from second base.

Cody Doyle and Hahn each had two hits for Avon. Doyle had two RBI.

Avon 6, Oakville 4
At Bristol
Avon (22-8)                 000  303  000 – 6-8-0
Oakville (30-7)            040  000  000  — 4-10-3
Brandon Feinberg, Matt Koenig (2), Michael Castellani (6) and Cody Doyle; Daniel Fein, Kyle Kennedy (6) and Mark Plourde; WP: Koenig; LP: Fein (5-2); S: Castellani; 2B: Connor Doyle (A), Matt Koenig (A); Cody Doyle (A); Noah Hahn (A); George Nurisso (A); Cherry (O), Plourde (O); LOB: Avon 4, Oakville 7; E: Delotto (O), Gombos (O), Fein (O)