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Bristol breaks up scoreless duel in 11th inning to hand Avon their second loss, 1-0

Avon’s Connor Harris (4-0) pitched nine innings but got a no decision as Bristol outlasted Post 201, 1-0 in 11 innings Tuesday at Muzzy Field.

BRISTOL, June 27 – Avon pitcher Connor Harris and Bristol hurler Zach Marquis battled for nine innings Tuesday night at Muzzy Field in a Zone 1 clash. The two pitchers combined to strike out 12 and allowed just four hits.

But in the end, it was Bristol’s Cory Fradette with a two-strike, line drive single to left field that lifted the Bristol American Legion baseball team to a 1-0 win over Avon in 11 innings.

Through 10 innings, just one runner progressed past second base. But in the bottom of the 11th inning, Bristol’s Noah Plantamuro singled to right field off Avon reliever Justin Olson and moved to second base when teammate Jaeden Rasmus reached on an error – the only error of the contest. Third baseman Brady Williamson couldn’t handle Rasmus’ bunt.

A walk to Michael Lemke loaded the bases with no one out. Olson battled back to strikeout Benjamin Mazzone looking for the first out of the inning. He had two strikes on Fradette before he ended the game with a hard single to left field.

Avon still leads Zone with an 11-2 record but Post 2 closed to within a 1½ games with the victory. With their fourth straight win, Bristol is now 10-4 and 9-3 in Zone 1.

Harris allowed just two hits and struck out five in nine innings work. Marquis allowed two hits and struck out seven for Bristol in 9 1/3 innings of action.

Bristol threatened in the bottom of the ninth inning but Harris pitched his way out of the jam. Lemke walked with one out and took second base on a passed ball. With Fradette at the plate, Lemke successfully stole third base. But Harris got Fradette to ground out to second base and Chris Jacobs to end the inning.

Avon had a chance in the top of the tenth inning but Bristol’s defense helped keep Post 201 off the board. With one out, Jeremy Zarwanski singled to right field but he was thrown out trying to steal second base. Adam Theriault and Jacobs walked. But Theriault was picked off second base by Mazzone to end the inning and the threat.

Avon had just three hits from Zarwanski, Theriault and Joe Suski.

It was the longest game for Avon since 2014 when Post 201 dropped a 10-7 decision to Simsbury in a team-record 12 innings. Avon also played 12 inning games in 2013, a 3-2 win over Southington, and in 2012, a 6-4 win over Middletown in the state tournament.

With the win, Bristol snapped a four-game losing streak at the hands of Avon. Post 201 won the first game of the season, 4-3. They will play the third and final game in the series on Tuesday, July 11 at Buckingham Field in Avon.

Avon (11-2) returns to the field on Wednesday night when they travel to Terryville for a 5:30 p.m. contest. Post 201 plays at Winsted at Walker Field on Thursday night.

Bristol 1, Avon 0
At Bristol
Avon (11-2)        000  000  000  00  — 0-3-1
Bristol (10-4)      000  000  000  01  — 1-4-0
Connor Harris, Justin Olson (10) and Jeremy Zarwanski; Zach Marquis, Benjamin Mazzone (10) and C. Richardson; WP: Mazzone; LP: Olson (1-1); 2B: none; 3B: none; HR: none

Since 2009, the Collinsville Press has been providing award-winning coverage of sports and news in the Farmington Valley and across Connecticut.

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