Avon rallies with four runs in the seventh to eliminate Lyman Hall in a thriller

Catcher Jeremy Zarwanski’s was 4-for-4 with a double and a walk to help Avon rally to eliminate Lyman Hall, 8-7 in the the first round of the Class L tournament Tuesday.

AVON, May 30 – After giving up five runs in the top of the sixth inning and falling behind by three runs, the Avon High baseball team rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat No. 23 Lyman Hall-Wallingford, 8-7 in the first round of the CIAC Class L tournament at Buckingham Field Tuesday.

It was an exciting comeback for the No. 10 Falcons (14-7), who advance to Wednesday’s second round contest at No. 7 North Haven (15-6).

Trailing 7-4, Avon’s Adam Theriault led off the seventh with a double to center field. With one out, Jack Stokesbury who came in to pinch run, scored on a double from Miles Borenstein to cut the lead to two runs, 7-5. Ryan Ollstead drew a walk from Lyman Hall reliever Jake Ranney, who then hit Justin Olson to load the bases.

Avon’s Brendan Dyer singled to left field, driving in Brahas, who pinch ran for Borenstein. Ollstead scored on an error by the left fielder to tie the game at 7-7.

Jeremy Zarwanski walked to load the bases for the second time in the inning before Ray Powell, who pinch ran for Olson, scored from third on a wild pitch to win the game, 8-7.

Zarwanski had the big bat for the Falcons, going 4-for-4 with a walk and a double. Olson, Borenstein, Dyer and Theriault each had two hits as Avon rapped out 14 hits in the victory, including five doubles. Dyer was 2-for-5 with an RBI while Olson, Theriault and Borenstein were each 2-for-4.

On the mound, Avon starter Connor Harris went 5 1/3 innings, allowing six hits, seven runs (three earned) and struck out seven. Will Boone (3-4) picked up the win in relief, allowing no hits in the final 1 2/3 innings.

Avon jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning on a two-RBI double from Chris Jacobs to right field and a sacrifice fly from Kyle Emery. Lyman Hall cut the lead to 3-2 in the fifth inning but the Falcons extended the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a RBI double from Emery.

Three hits, a pair of walks and an error helped Lyman score five runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-4 lead. Russ Edeen had a RBI double while Ethan Day and Mike Caruso had sacrifice flies that drove in runs.

Avon 8, Lyman Hall 7
At Avon
Lyman Hall (10-11)           000  025  0 — 7-6-1
Avon (14-7)                      300  010  4 – 8-14-2
Derek Delaney, Zack Brier (5), Jake Ranney (7) and Mike Caruso; Connor Harris, Will Boone (6) and Jeremy Zarwanski; WP: Boone (3-4); LP: Ranney; 2B: Mike Borenstein (A), Kyle Emery (A), Chris Jacobs (A), Adam Theriault (A), Jeremy Zarwanski (A), Tyler Lyons (LH), Russ Edeen (LH)