Avon rolls past Burlington to capture District 6 baseball championship

The Avon Little League baseball team won its first District 6 Major Division title since 2012 with a 14-2 win over Burlington Saturday.

THOMASTON, July 18 – The Avon Little League baseball team was dominant in the first seven games they played in the District 6 Major Division tournament. Avon won six times, scored 97 runs and gave up just 32.

That domination continued in the championship game of the District 6 tournament Saturday at Reeves Field. Avon rolled to its eighth District 6 title in the last 14 years with a 14-2 win over Burlington in four innings on Saturday afternoon.

Avon (7-1) rapped out 15 hits in the game while pitcher Arjun Grover allowed just three hits and struck out nine batters in four innings of work. “We got some great at-bats and we played well in the field,” Avon manager Steven Angus said. “We played well in every aspect of the game and had fun doing it. And they did it with sportsmanship.”

Arjun Grover struck out nine in four innings to lead Avon in the D6 final.

When Avon’s Zac Aiello belted a two-run home run in the fourth inning, no Avon players swarmed out of the dugout to celebrate with Aiello at home plate. They patiently waited for him to round the bases and celebrated with him in the dugout.

“Our motto was one team, one dream,” Burlington manager Glenn Triplett said. “Although we didn’t fulfill our dream of winning a District 6 championship, we fulfilled our dream of becoming a team and creating some great memories. (Avon) is a great team with a lot of classy kids.”

Burlington was the only team to beat Avon in the tournament. After Avon went undefeated in four-game, round robin portion of the tournament, Burlington scored 12 runs in the first inning to earn a 13-7 victory in the first game of the double elimination portion of the D6 tourney.

Burlington (5-2) secured its spot in the title game with a 12-2 win over Simsbury. Avon, meanwhile, had to win back-to-back elimination games with Torrington and Simsbury to get a shot at the championship. Avon beat Torrington, 22-5 in four innings and shutout Simsbury, 17-0.

“We fought hard to get back (to the championship game),” Angus said. “I’m proud of how we responded. They play hard all the time and give their best. It’s a good group.”

Avon took charge immediately, taking a 3-0 lead on a wild pitch, a RBI single by Grover and a RBI groundout by Sam Smith. Avon extended its lead to seven in the second inning on a two-RBI double from Christian Boudreau, a RBI double from Aiello and a RBI single from Brian Dowling.

Burlington players celebrate with Christian Corliss after his two-run home run in the D6 final Saturday.

Burlington had a reason to cheer when leadoff hitter Christian Corliss ripped a two-RBI home run over the left field fence in the second inning to trim the lead to five runs, 7-2. But Avon put the game away in the fourth with a six-run burst. Games are ended if a team leads by 10 or more runs after four innings.

Boudreau was 4-for-4 for Avon with two doubles and three RBI while Brayden Nemarick and Aiello had two hits each. Nemarick had two singles and two RBI while Aiello had a double, home run and three RBI. Millin Juin, Gabi Nemarick, Jonathan Sides, Ben Angus and Daniel Bae each had hits for Avon.

Avon advances to the Division 2 sectional that begins next Wednesday at P.J. Foley Field in Naugatuck with the District 5 and District 3 champions. The winner of the three-team group advances to the four-team state tournament final in Newington.

Burlington was playing the Major Division final for the fourth straight year. For Avon, it was their 12th trip to the Major Division finals in the last 14 years.

Avon 14, Burlington 2 (4)
At Thomaston
Avon (7-1)                    341  6 –14-15-1
Burlington (5-2)            020  0 – 2-3-1
Arjun Grover and Zac Aiello; Edward Jankowski, Sam Disorbo (2) and Evan Reynolds; WP: Grover; LP: Jankowski; 2B: Christian Boudreau (A) 2, Aiello (A); HR: Aiello (A), Christian Corliss (B)

Burlington shortstop Scott Groteau makes a great catch moving backward into the outfield in Saturday’s D6 championship game.

District 6 Major Division baseball
Round robin: Avon 4-0, Simsbury 4-0, Burlington 3-1, Torrington 3-1, Tri-Town 2-2, Terryville 1-3, East Granby 1-3, Canton/Harwinton 0-4, Granby 0-4
Double-elimination playoffs
Burlington 13, Avon 7
Simsbury 5, Torrington 0
Burlington 12, Simsbury 2
Avon 22, Torrington 5 (4)
Avon 17, Simsbury 0
Championship: Avon 14, Burlington 2 (4)

Recent District 6 Major Division championship games
2014: Simsbury 10, Burlington 1
2013: Burlington 8, Avon 6
2012: Avon 16, Burlington 2 (4)
2011: Avon 11, Torrington Americans 7
2010: Simsbury Americans 9, Avon 7
2009: Avon 12, Simsbury Americans 2
2008: Burlington 7, Avon 5
2007: Avon 8, Thomaston 0
2006: Simsbury Nationals 4, Avon 3
2005: Avon 15, Simsbury Nationals 5 (4)