No. 6 South Windsor holds off Avon, hands Falcons fourth one-run defeat

Avon’s Sean Del Gallo was 2-for-2 for the Falcons in a 3-2 loss to South Windsor on Friday.

SOUTH WINDSOR, May 20 – The Avon High baseball team is finding the margin for error to be much smaller in the Central Connecticut Conference. A few mistakes, a few missed opportunities can cost you.

South Windsor’s Alex Rodriguez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning and the Bobcats survived an Avon challenge in the seventh inning to beat the Falcons Friday night, 3-2 in CCC play.

Avon (10-9) lost their fourth straight game and for the sixth time in the last seven games. The Falcons played well but couldn’t come up with the victory. Avon limited No 6 South Windsor (15-3) to just six hits. The Bobcats began the season with 13 consecutive victories.

South Windsor led 2-0 after five innings. Avon cut the lead to one in the sixth inning. Sean Del Gallo led off the inning with a single to left field and moved to third base on a single from catcher Jeremy Zarwanski. Del Gallo scored on a fielder’s choice play started by Matt Boone’s ground ball to shortstop.

Avon had two runners on base with one out but South Windsor starter Zach Donahue and reliever Jake Cassey each got an Avon batter to strike out looking to end the threat.

South Windsor extended their lead to 3-1 on a two-out sacrifice fly by Alex Rodriguez in the sixth inning. But Avon threatened again in the seventh. With one out, Ian McDonald reached on an error. With two outs, McDonald scored on a RBI single from Del Gallo cut to the lead to one run. Zarwanski singled to put runners on first and second base.

But Cassey coaxed Boone to hit the ball to shortstop and end the game.

Avon had seven hits led by Zarwanski (2-4) and Del Gallo (2-2). Andrew LeDuc had a double for AHS. Pitcher Connor Harris went the distance and allowed six hits. He struck out three and walked one.

The Falcons conclude the regular season on Monday at Farmington at Tunxis Meade at 7 p.m. in a CCC Central White contest. Avon has lost six of their last seven games but three have been one-run defeats and one game was a two-run loss. Four of Avon’s losses this year have been one-run defeats.

Avon has qualified for the CIAC Class L tournament for the ninth consecutive season. Qualifying round games, if needed, are scheduled for Saturday, May 28. First round play begins on May 31.

South Windsor 3, Avon 2
At South Windsor
Avon (10-9)                            000  001  1  — 2-7-1
South Windsor (15-3)             101  001  x  — 3-6-1
Connor Harris and Jeremy Zarwanski; Zach Donahue, Jake Cassey (6) and unknown; WP: Donahue; LP: Harris (2-2); Sv – Cassey; 2B: Andrew LeDuc (A); 3B: Jake Sirracusa (SW)