
Avon catcher Jeremy Zarwanski was 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI in Sunday’s 5-0 Zone 1 win over Unionville.
AVON, July 10 – The Avon American Legion baseball team beat Unionville, 5-0 in a rain-shortened contest Sunday afternoon at Buckingham Field. The victory ensured that Avon qualified for the American Legion state tournament for the eighth straight year.
But, more importantly, it kept Avon in the hunt for the Zone 1 championship. Avon (15-5) can capture its second Zone 1 title with victories in three of their final four games. Post 201 faces Bristol (15-5) on Monday and Tuesday night at Muzzy Field. Avon travels to Terryville (9-11) on Wednesday night and closes out the regular season by hosting Unionville Thursday night.
Avon had a doubleheader scheduled with Unionville (7-14) on Sunday but the second game was washed away due to the heavy downpour early in the afternoon.
Post 201 could win two of their final four games and capture the title if they win two games against Bristol.
Simsbury (14-8) split a doubleheader with Terryville on Sunday, dropping the first game, 9-5 and winning the nightcap, 11-2. Simsbury is still in the hunt but they need a lot of help. Simsbury closes out the regular season against Unionville on Monday and against Winsted on Tuesday.
While the top five teams in Zone 1 earn a spot in the state tournament, the zone champion gets to miss the first round of the playoffs – a two-day, single-elimination affair that begins on Saturday, July 16.
It will take two victories for teams to earn a right to advance to the second round – a best-of-three series with the eight zone champions beginning on Wednesday, July 22. Missing the first round can save 18 innings of work from a team’s pitching staff.
Two days after a 1-0 loss to Torrington, Post 201 exploded for 10 hits against Unionville Sunday. Jeremy Zarwanski was 3-for-3 with a double, two singles and three RBI. Kyle Emery was 2-for-2 with a RBI. Seven of the nine starters had at least one hit.
“Everyone came to play today,” Avon coach Donny Annicelle said. “It took a little while to get started but we got it going.”
Emery gave Avon a 1-0 lead in the second inning with a RBI single to center field. In the third inning, Justin Olson and Will Thramann drew walks and scored on Zarwanski’s two-RBI double to right field for a 3-0 advantage.
In the fifth, Olson and Zarwanski each had RBI singles to extend the lead to 5-0. Avon pitcher Chris Jacobs went the distance, allowing six hits and striking out seven before the rain stopped the game in the top of the sixth inning. He earned his third victory of the season on the mound.
Simsbury has won the last two Zone 1 championships. In 2014, they tied with Avon but took home the pennant after winning the season series with Post 201. Avon won the Zone 1 championship in 2013. Bristol’s last Zone 1 title came in 2011.
Avon 5, Unionville 0 (6)
At Avon
Unionville (7-14) 000 000 – 0-6-1
Avon (15-5) 012 02x – 5-10-1
Brendan Walsh and unknown; Chris Jacobs and Jeremy Zarwanski; WP: Jacobs (3-0); LP: Walsh; 2B: Zarwanski (A); Joe Nadel (U)
Zone 1 contenders
Monday, July 11
Simsbury at Unionville, 5:30 p.m.
Avon at Bristol, 6 p.m.
Southington at Bristol, 7:45 p.m.
Tuesday, July 12
Avon at Bristol, 5:30 p.m.
Winsted at Simsbury, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 13
Avon at Terryville, 5:30 p.m.
Bristol at Torrington, 7 p.m.
Thursday, July 14
Unionville at Avon, 5:45 p.m.
Since 2009, the Collinsville Press has been providing award-winning coverage of sports and news in the Farmington Valley and across Connecticut.


Boys Basketball
Mills pulls away from Simsbury for sixth win of season

You must be logged in to post a comment Login