First place Stafford scores twice in the sixth to beat Avon, 5-3

STAFFORD, May 2 – Mistakes caught up with the Avon High baseball team Saturday afternoon against Stafford, the first place team in the NCCC. 

On Thursday, the Falcons committed two errors and allowed four unearned runs. But it didn’t hurt too much thanks to 16 Avon hits in a seven-run win over Sport Medicine Science Academy in Hartford. 

Against the Bulldogs, Avon wasn’t as fortunate. The Falcons committed two errors and allowed two unearned runs in a 5-3 loss to undefeated Stafford (9-0, 8-0 NCCC). Stafford’s left-handed pitcher Josh Simpson went the distance on the mound, scattering four hits and striking out eight. 

Stafford jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning. With one out, Luke Broadhurst (3-for-4, RBI) singled to right field and moved to second when Simpson walked. Broadhurst gave Stafford a 1-0 lead, scoring on Patrick Brothers’ RBI single to right field. 

Falcon pitcher Justin Olson got the next batter to ground out. But Hunter Davis reached base on a throwing error that allowed two runs to score, giving the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.

Avon (6-4, 5-4 NCCC) responded quickly with three runs in the second to tie up the game. With one out, Ian McDonald singled and moved to second after Alex Zacchio walked. The bases were loaded after Andrew LeDuc reached on an error. Two runs scored when Bryant St. Jean reached on another infield error, cutting the lead to one run. LeDuc tied the game at 3-3, scoring on a wild pitch from third base. 

But from that point, Avon had few opportunities. Simpson didn’t allow an Avon runner to reach third base from that point. In the fourth and fifth innings, Simpson retired five consecutive Avon batters on strikeouts. 

Stafford took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Alex Hoss reached on a one-out single and scored on Broadhurst’s RBI double. Broadhurst gave the Bulldogs a two-run lead, scoring on a wild pitch. 

Olson, Jeremy Zarwanski, Will Boone and McDonald each had singles for Avon. 

The Falcons play three games next week – two at home at Buckingham. Avon hosts Bolton on Monday at 4 p.m. and Enfield on Friday at 4 p.m. Avon is on the road Wednesday at 4 p.m. against Windsor Locks. 

Stafford 5, Avon 3
At Stafford
Avon (6-4)           030  000  0 – 3-4-2
Stafford (9-0)     300  002  x – 5-10-2
Ian McDonald, Justin Olson (1), Kyle Emery (6), Will Boone (6) and Jeremy Zarwanski; Josh Simpson and Patrick Brothers; WP: Simpson; LP: Olson; 2B: Simpson (S), Luke Broadhurst (S)