Avon Legion splits with Wolcott, rebounds to win nightcap

WOLCOTT, June 19 – The Wolcott American Legion baseball team exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to hand Avon their first loss of the season on Sunday, 8-3, in the first game of Zone 1 doubleheader.

Post 201 rallied for a split with 15 hits and eight runs in the nightcap in an 8-2 victory to improve to 6-1 and remain in sole possession of first place in Zone 1 after one full week of play. Avon has a half-game lead over Bristol (5-1) and a full game lead over Wolcott (5-2).

Avon was in control of the opener with a 3-0 lead when the wheels fell off in the fifth inning. Olson gave up two walks and a single to load the bases. Vincent Gambino had a RBI single and another walk cut the lead to 3-2.

Brady Williamson relieved Olson and the first batter, Robert Perazzella drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3. Michael Gugliotti followed with a three-run home run to extend the lead to 7-3. In total, Avon gave up five walks and five hits in the inning.

Sean Del Gallo, Jeremy Zarwanski and Andrew LeDuc each had two hits for Avon with LeDuc getting a double and a single. Del Gallo and Williamson each had two RBI.

In game two, Avon jumped out to an early 5-1 lead after three innings and never looked back. With another two runs, they extended the lead to 7-1 in the fifth inning. Starting pitcher Connor Harris improved to 3-0, going the distance, striking out just one and scattering five hits.

Del Gallo was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI. LeDuc was 4-4 with a double and one RBI. Williamson and Olson each had two hits for Post 201.

Avon returns to the field on Tuesday night when they host Simsbury (5-4) at Buckingham Park.

Wolcott 8, Avon 3
At Wolcott
Avon (5-1)       100  200  0 – 3-9-2
Wolcott (5-1)   000  071  x – 8-7-0
Justin Olson, Brady Williamson (5) and Jeremy Zarwanski; Isaiah Negretti and unknown; WP: Negretti; LP: Olson (1-1); 2B: Andrew LeDuc (A); HR: Michael Guliotti (W)

Avon 8, Wolcott 2
At Wolcott
Avon (6-1)       131  021  0 – 8-15-4
Wolcott (5-2)   100  010  0 – 2-5-1
Connor Harris and Ryan Ollstead; Justin Proteau, Eric Gillotti (3), Matthew Warren (5) and unknown; WP: Harris (3-0); LP: Proteau; 2B: Robert Perazzella (W), Steve Urbanski (W) 2, Sean Del Gallo (A), Andrew LeDuc (A)

Current Zone 1 standings
As of Sunday, June 19
Team                    Zone    Overall
Avon                    6-1       6-1
Bristol                  5-1       5-3
Wolcott                5-2       5-2
Simsbury             5-4       5-4
Southington        4-5       4-5
Unionville            4-6       4-6
Torrington           3-6       3-6
Terryville             1-4       1-4
Winsted              1-5       1-5
This week’s schedule
Tuesday, June 21
Simsbury at Avon, 5:45 p.m.
Wednesday, June 22
Torrington at Avon, 5:45 p.m.
Simsbury at Terryville, 5:45 p.m.
Thursday, June 23
Unionville at Simsbury, 5:45 p.m.
Avon at Torrington, 7 p.m.
Friday, June 24
Wolcott at Avon, 5:45 p.m.
Sunday, June 26
Simsbury at Wolcott (2), 11 a.m.