Avon pitcher Kyle Emery scattered five hits and struck out two to lead Post 201 to a 4-1 decision over Berlin in the state tournament Thursday.
AVON, July 21 – Avon American Legion baseball Donny Annicelle likes to make things happen on the basepaths. He likes to keep his Post 201 players in motion to put pressure on the opposing team’s defense.
In Thursday’s Northern Division regional, Avon scored the first run of the game by stealing home. They got their second run on a passed ball. Avon also had had some big two-out hits as Post 201 advanced to the Northern Division finals with a 4-1 decision over Berlin. The win gives Avon a sweep of the best-of-3 series and leaves Post 201 as one of the final eight teams remaining in the state tournament.
Avon, which has won six of their last seven ballgames, will be facing Tolland, defending state and Northeast Regional champion RCP (Rocky Hill, Cromwell, Portland) and New London in the Northern Division finals, a double-elimination event on Saturday and Sunday in South Windsor at Rotary Field.
Avon (20-6) also got the job on the mound. Kyle Emery, now 6-1, went six innings, allowing just one run and scattering five hits. He gave up four walks and struck out two. Reliever Connor Harris pitched a scoreless seventh inning to secure the victory.
Post 201 put the pressure on Berlin (20-14-2) in the first inning. The second batter of the game, Will Thramann was hit by a pitch. Justin Olson walked and Thramann moved to third base when Jeremy Zarwanski reached on a fielder’s choice ground ball to shortstop.
Avon’s Will Thramann scored two runs Thursday — one on a steal of home and another on a passed ball.
With two outs and two strikes on batter Andrew LeDuc, Thramann stole home to give Avon the 1-0 lead.
Berlin tied the game in the bottom of the third inning on a two-out double to left field from Nicholas Naples.
Avon responded in the fifth inning. Post 201 loaded the bases with no outs as Thramann singled to right field, moved to second base when Olson walked and moved to third base when Zarwanski reached on a bunt single back toward the mound.
Thramann scored on a passed ball to give Avon a 2-1 lead. After LeDuc and Chris Jacobs recorded outs, Avon had runners on second and third base with two outs. It looked like Berlin might be able to escape the jam giving up just one run.
But Emery helped himself. On the first pitch he saw from Berlin hurler Brendan Ebert, Emery ripped a hard ground ball to center field that scored two runs and extended Avon’s lead to 4-1.
Brady Williamson followed with a single that loaded the bases. Avon didn’t push any additional runs across but they had enough. Emery and Harris allowed just one Berlin runner on base in the final two innings.
Williamson finished 2-for-4 for Avon while Sean Del Gallo, Thramann, Jacobs, Joe Suski and Emery had hits in the game.
OF NOTE: RCP won the Zone 7 championship and is 25-5. Tolland won the Zone 8 title and is 21-3 on the season. New London finished second in Zone 6 to Niantic and is 26-10. New London was the only team that didn’t win a zone championship to advance to Northern Division and Southern Division finals.
Avon 4, Berlin 1
At Avon
Avon (20-6) 100 030 0 – 4-7-0
Berlin (20-14-2) 001 000 0 – 1-5-1
Kyle Emery, Connor Harris (7) and Jeremy Zarwanski; Brendan Ebert, Zach Veleas (5) and unknown; WP: Emery (6-1); LP: Ebert; 2B: Nicholas Naples (B); 3B: none; HR: none
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