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Avon spanks Canton to advance to District 6 final in Little League baseball

The Avon Little League baseball team celebrates after one of three home runs they hit against Canton in Wednesday's District 6 tournament game in Simsbury.

The Avon Little League baseball team celebrates after one of three home runs they hit against Canton in Wednesday’s District 6 tournament game in Simsbury.

SIMSBURY, July 13 – After three tight ball games in three evenings, the Avon’s Major Division (ages 11-12) Little League baseball team exploded Wednesday night in the District 6 tournament.

With 17 hits and three home runs, Avon won its third straight elimination game with a resounding 14-4 win over Canton in four innings. The game was called due to the mercy rule once Avon extended its lead to 10 runs.

The victory places Avon (6-2) into Saturday’s District 6 championship game against Simsbury, who beat Avon on Sunday by three runs, 5-2, in the first game of the double-elimination portion of the tournament. The title game begins at 5:45 p.m. at the Oak Avenue Field in Torrington and the winner advances to next week’s Section II state tournament in Berlin.

Avon advanced to the D6 championship game for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons. Avon has won seven championships in that span with the most recent coming a year ago in a 14-2 win over Burlington. Simsbury (6-1) is looking for their first D6 title since 2014.

Canton's Frankie Flaherty safely slides into second base after passed ball as Avon shortstop Matt Leopold tries to control the ball.

Canton’s Frankie Flaherty safely slides into second base after passed ball as Avon shortstop Matt Leopold tries to control the ball.

Avon enjoyed its hitting prowess on Wednesday night. Four of their first five batters got hits including Matt Leopold, who hit a two-run home run. In the second inning, three consecutive singles from Tyler Nyberg, Leopold, and Emmette Bornstein loaded the bases for Dylan Love, who hit a grand slam to center field.

In the third inning, Bornstein hit a three-run home run. Bornstein had an outstanding evening at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. Nybery was 3-for-4 with three singles while winning pitcher Nick Amatulli and Leopold had two hits each.

Canton (4-3) was led by Connor Clement, who was 2-for-2 with a double and a two-run home run in the third inning. Frankie Flaherty had a two-run single for Canton in the first inning.

Canton had three hits in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. But in the bottom of the first inning, all nine Avon batters came to the plate and five got hits as Avon grabbed a 4-2 lead. They added another four runs in the second inning for an 8-2 lead and made it 12-4 in the third inning.

Avon 14, Canton 4 (4)
At Simsbury
Canton (4-3)                 202  1 – 4-5-1
Avon (6-2)                    444  2 – 14-17-0
Charlie Biskupiak, Frankie Flaherty (2) and Flaherty, Connor Clement; Nick Amatulli and Emmett Bornstein; WP: Amatulli; LP: Biskupiak; 2B: Clement (C), Colby Nemarich (A); HR: Matt Leopold (A), Bornstein (A), Dylan Love (A), Clement (C)

District 6 Baseball
Major Division
Sunday, July 10
Game 1: Simsbury 5, Avon 2
Game 2: Canton 18, Burlington 9
Monday, July 11
Game 3: Simsbury 6, Torrington 3
Game 4: Avon 6, Burlington 4, Burlington eliminated
Tuesday, July 12
Game 5: Simsbury 8, Canton 2
Game 6: Avon 6, Torrington 2, Torrington eliminated

Wednesday, July 13
Game 7: Avon 14, Canton 4 (4), Canton eliminated
Saturday, July 15
Game 8: Championship – SImsbury (6-1) vs. Avon (6-2), Oak Avenue, Torrington, 5:45 p.m.

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 30 years.

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