Simsbury pitcher Joe Patrina gets ready to catch the ball before tagging out Ryan Ollestad (12) in the seventh inning of Friday night’s Zone 1 game in Simsbury.
SIMSBURY, June 23 – When Avon American Legion baseball coach Donny Annicelle played high school baseball at Trumbull High, he called himself the energy guy or the sparkplug. He was that player full of enthusiasm, hustle and energy helping his teammates to keep their focus on the game.
“I’m a high energy guy,” he said Friday night at Memorial Field. “I’ve always been that way as a player and now as a coach. I hope the kids feed off that because they need it.”
Annicelle had plenty to cheer about Friday night as Post 201 used three pitchers to limit host Simsbury to just three hits and played outstanding defense to secure their sixth shutout win of the year in 10 games as Avon beat Simsbury at Memorial Field, 8-0.
It’s the largest margin of victory for Avon (10-1) over Simsbury (5-5) since the series resumed in 2009 when Avon resurrected their American Legion baseball program. Defending Zone 1 champion Avon remains in firm control of the Zone 1 race with Southington (8-4), Bristol (6-3) and Wolcott (6-3) trailing Post 201.
“It was our biggest win of the year,” Annicelle said. “I saw the team I had last year come to life today. It was really nice to see. I was so happy to see the team come alive and see what I saw (last year) for so many games.”
Avon’s Connor Harris went five strong innings to improve to 4-0 on the season.
Avon won its second Zone 1 championship a year ago and won their first state tournament games before stumbling in the Northern Regional portion of the tournament. Now, they are off to a 10-1 start – one of the best starts in team history. Post 201 was 11-1 three years ago in 2014.
Avon pitcher Connor Harris improved to 4-0, going five innings, striking out three and allowing three hits. “I threw the ball well and threw strikes,” he said. “It gave my teammates a chance to make the play behind me.”
Avon has won 10 games this year – six by shutout. They had just one error Friday night. Offensively, they had six hits but they were aggressive on the basepaths, stealing four bases. Sean Del Gallo stole three.
“Avon is a very good baseball team,” Simsbury coach Tom Vincent said. “They’re solid in all facets of the game.”
This was Avon’s second straight win over Simsbury after 10 consecutive losses from 2013 through last June. “They are a team that always plays us tough and always gives us their best,” Annicelle said. “It was a great win.”
Simsbury second baseman Peter Myers, left, is about to put the tag on Avon’s Chris Jacobs in Friday night’s Zone 1 contest.
Avon made things happen immediately. Sean Del Gallo led off the game with a single to centerfield and promptly stole second base. Justin Olson walked and Del Gallo eventually stole third base. Del Gallo scored on an infield error for a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, Avon’s Joe Suski reached on a two-out error. Suski stole second base and scored on Del Gallo’s RBI single for a 2-0 advantage.
Simsbury threatened in the third inning but came up empty. Canton native Peter Myers led off the inning for Post 84 with a double to center field. A bunt single from Joe Patrina put runners on first and third base with no outs against Harris.
But Harris was able to battle back from a 3 ball, 1 strike count against Simsbury’s Nate Eberly to strike him out looking. Sam Attianese grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Simsbury did lose a player though. After striking out, Eberly was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct when swore at Annicelle as he walked back to the Simsbury dugout. Simsbury had runners on first and third base with no outs but Harris was able to bear down and get Eberly.
Eberly was ahead in the count, three balls and one strike. But Harris threw two curve ball for strikes to strike him out looking and get the first out of the inning. The Avon bench erupted and one of the loudest cheers for Harris came from an excited Annicelle.
That didn’t sit well with Eberly, who loudly told Annicelle to be quiet with a curse word included. He was promptly ejected by the home plate umpire.
“I have as much confidence in throwing my curve ball for a strike as a fastball,” Harris said. “I knew he was expected a fast ball so I went with the opposite and threw a curve.”
When the ball came off Attiansese’s bat, Harris was confident. “I knew my teammates would make the play. It was quite a moment. We were fired up,” he admitted.
Jake Schaetzel struck out nine Avon batters on Friday.
Avon added another run in the sixth inning. Leadoff hitter Andrew LeDuc was hit by a pitch that deflected off the brim of his helmet and hit him in the nose and lip. Kyle Zarwanski took his place as a pinch runner and moved to third base on a single from Chris Jacobs. Zarwanski scored on a ground ball to shortstop for a 3-0 lead.
Post 201 added five runs in the seventh. Suski led off the inning with a triple to center field and scored on a sacrifice fly from Del Gallo. Brady Williamson had a RBI double in the inning as Avon pulled away.
Simsbury (5-5) has been battling injuries and on Friday three Canton players – Nate Fulham. Sam Beadle and Ryan Enns – weren’t available because it was graduation night. Canton native Pete Myers, who will going to the University of Hartford next fall as a pitcher, filled in a second base. He had a third inning double – one of just three Simsbury hits. Patrina and Peter Phillips had hits for Post 84.
Simsbury pitcher Jake Schaetzel of Canton made his first start of the season and struck out nine Avon batters in 6 1/3 innings. “That was his best effort of the year,” Vincent said.
Avon returns to action on Saturday morning when they travel to Wolcott for their only game of the weekend. Simsbury hosts a doubleheader against Wolcott on Sunday beginning at 4 p.m.
NOTES: Previously, Avon’s biggest win over Simsbury was a six-run victory in an 8-2 decision in 2011. … There are five Canton natives on the Simsbury team – Myers, Schaetzel, Enns, Fulham and Beadle. … For Avon, Del Gallo was 2-for-3 with two RBI while Williamson was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
Avon 8, Simsbury 0
At Simsbury
Avon (10-1) 110 001 5 – 8-6-1
Simsbury (5-5) 000 000 0 – 0-3-5
Connor Harris, Justin Olson (6), Kyle Emery (7) and Ryan Ollstad; Jake Schaetzel, Luke Benneche (7), Joe Patrina (7) and Grant Duford; WP: Harris (4-0); LP: Schaetzel (0-1); 2B: Brady Williamson (A), Peter Myers (S); 3B: Joe Suski (A)
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