Avon Legion sweeps Terryville for 11th win

Avon’s Ben Lombard had four hits and a double in Sunday’s doubleheader sweep of Terryville at Avon Old Farms.

AVON – Avon’s Ben Lombard didn’t plan to take the spring off. He wanted to play baseball at Bridgewater State but it didn’t work out. Now, Lombard is making up for it with the Avon American Legion baseball team and is having a great time. 

Lombard went 3-for-4 with a double in one game Sunday and had four hits on the day as Avon rolled to their 11th win in 12 games with a 4-3 and 9-1 sweep over Terryville in Zone 1 play at Avon Old Farms. 

It was a nice start to a challenging week of baseball for Post 201. Avon hosts Southington, which handed the squad its first loss of the season last week, on Monday at 5:45 p.m. On Tuesday, Avon hosts Winsted and on Thursday, Post 201 hosts Bristol at Avon Old Farms at 5:45 p.m. At 11-1, Avon is currently leading Zone 1 over Simsbury (7-2) and Bristol (5-4). 

Lombard is one of the senior leaders on Post 201.He is one of two players on the team that has completed their freshman year in college. There are just three players – catcher Cody Doyle and pitchers Connor Dunn and Matt Williamson – who were seniors this spring. 

“We have only three or four guys from last year but these young kids are so talented,” Lombard said. “They’re as good as the veterans we had before. They’re a selfless bunch. It’s not about them. It’s about the team.” 

“It’s a fun group to coach,” Avon Legion coach Brian Doyle said. “Everyone is pitching in.” 

On Sunday, Lombard had an outstanding afternoon. He was 3-for-4 with a double and two singles in the 9-1 game two victory over Terryville. He had a single in the 4-3 win in the opener. 

“I’m seeing the ball really well,” Lombard said. “I’m having fun.” Most of his time with Post 201 is spent in the outfield but he got a few innings behind the plate in game two. He has been a catcher since his days in Little League. “You’re always in the game behind the plate,” he said. 

Sean Del Gallo, who just completed his sophomore year at Avon High, was 2-for-4 in the second game with a three-RBI triple in the second inning to give Avon a 4-1 lead. He added a two-RBI single in the third inning. 

Catcher Cody Doyle had a RBI double in the second game and pitched two innings of scoreless relief. Jeremy Zawanski, who was a freshman at Avon High this spring, had a RBI double for Post 201. 

Three Avon pitchers combined to limit Terryville to four hits in game two including Williamson, a senior this spring at AOF, Doyle and Will Boone, a freshman at Avon this spring. He pitched three innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two. 

Pitcher Matt Williamson pitched two strong innings to lead Avon to a win over Terryville in game two.

Terryville took a 1-0 lead on a RBI single from Jake Wright in the first inning but Avon responded quickly. Lombard walked to lead off the Avon first inning, stole second base and scored on Doyle’s double to left field. 

In the second inning, Avon staged a two-out rally. Justin Olson walked and Andrew LeDuc singled. Lombard’s bunt single loaded the bases for Del Gallo, who ripped a three-RBI triple down the right field line for a 4-1 lead. 

In the third inning, Avon had another two-out rally. Olson was hit by a pitch and LeDuc followed with his second hit of the game. Lombard walked to load the bases and Del Gallo followed with a two-RBI single to left field for a 6-1 lead. Olson was a freshman at Avon High this year while LeDuc was a sophomore. 

In game one, Avon took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on a RBI single from Conner McCutcheon and a sacrifice fly from Chris DeNapoli. Terryville (9-7, 8-6 Zone 1) tied it with two runs in the third and a run in the fourth inning. Avon took the lead for good on a RBI single from McCutcheon in the fifth inning. 

Matt Boone, a sophomore at Avon High this year, went four innings on the mound, giving up two hits, two runs and striking out three. Lefthander Michael Castellani made his summer debut with 2 1/3 innings of shutout relief, striking out five. 

Castellani, one of the veteran stars from last year’s Zone 1 championship team, had a standout freshman season at Bucknell University with a 3-0 record and 1.44 ERA in 18 appearances. He had 20 strikeouts and 11 walks and pitched in two of Bucknell’s NCAA tournament contests. 

Castellani was playing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League with the Ocean State Waves in South Kingston, R.I. But he got sick recently and couldn’t shake it. He lost some weight and decided to return home to Avon to get healthy. In the NECBL, you live with a host family and there are some very long road trips across New England. 

For now, Castellani will come out of the bullpen but by the end of the season, Avon hopes to have Castellani as a starter.

NOTES: Avon has swept all three games with Terryville. … Avon and Simsbury’s game last week ended after seven innings due to darkness tied at 7-7. It will be completed at a date to be determined later. Avon plays a doubleheader at SImsbury on Sunday, July 13, beginning at 5 p.m. at Memorial Field.

Avon 4, Terryville 3
At Avon
Terryville (9-6)                   002  010  0 – 3-4-3
Avon (10-1)                        030  010  x – 4-6-1
Jared Valois and Connor Berg; Matt Boone, Ben Suski (5), Michael Castellani (5) and Cody Doyle; WP: Boone; LP: Valois; Save – Castellani; 2B – Berg (T) 

Avon 9, Terryville 1
At Avon
Terryville (9-7)                   100  000  0 – 1-4-0
Avon (11-1)                        152  001  x – 9-11-1
Matt Williamson, Cody Doyle (3), Will Boone (5) and Cody Doyle, Ben Lombard (3); Blaise Russo, Taylor Donfrio (3), Kyle Skidmore (5), Mike Milius (6) and Connor Berg; WP: Williamson; LP: Russo; 2B: Ben Lombard (A), Cody Doyle (A), Jeremy Zawanski (A); 3B: Sean Delgallo (A)

Remaining Avon schedule
JUNE 30: SOUTHINGTON, 5:45 p.m.
JULY: 1: WINSTED, 5:45 p.m.; 3: BRISTOL, 5:45 p.m.; 6: at Wolcott (2), 11 a.m.; 8: TORRINGTON, 5:30 p.m.; 9: at Bristol, 5:30 p.m.; 10: SOUTHINGTON, 5:30 p.m.; 13: at Simsbury (2), 5 p.m.; 15: at Winsted, 5:30 p.m.
Home games at Avon Old Farms