Mattson helps Canton win fifth straight; Avon loses in 8th; Simsbury wins tenth

After a tough first inning, Canton pitcher Michael Sullivan settled down and helped the Warriors win their fifth straight game. (Photo courtesy Paul Amrose)

CANTON, May 9 – James Mattson was 2-for-2 with a double, home run and four RBI to lead the Canton High baseball team to their fifth straight win after beating Stafford, 9-3 in a North Central Connecticut Conference game at Bowdoin Field.

The Warriors had nine hits – sparked by Mattson. Jack Rose was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI while Jack Mansur was 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.

Canton pitcher Michael Sullivan went the distance, pitching seven innings to pick up the win.  Sullivan gave up two hits in the first inning including a two-run home run to Julien Rivera. But in the remaining six innings, he allowed one hit and struck out six.

With the victory, Canton (8-4, 7-2 NCCC) remains in contention for the league championship. Granby (15-2, 12-1 NCCC) leads the league followed by East Granby (9-3, 9-2) and the Warriors. Coventry is fourth with a record of 12-3 overall and 10-3 in the league.

Canton travels to Coventry for a big game with the Patriots on Thursday.

Canton 9, Stafford 3
At Canton
Stafford (4-11)                  300  000  0 – 3-3-5
Canton (8-4)                       331  011  x – 9-9-0
Devon LeBua and unknown; Michael Sullivan and unknown; WP: Sullivan (3-2); LP: LeBua; 2B: Jack Mansur (Ca), James Mattson (Ca), Jack Rose (Ca), Jeff Kology (S); HR: James Mattson (Ca), Julein Rivas (S)

Southington 3, Avon 2 (8)
SOUTHINGTON, May 9 – For the second consecutive game, the Avon High baseball team dropped a one-run decision as their opponent scored the game-winning run in the final inning.

On Tuesday, Hall scored one run in the top of the seventh inning to escape with a 1-0 decision. On Wednesday, Southington (7-8) scored in the bottom of the eighth inning to hand the Falcons their third straight loss, 3-2, at Fontana Field.

Trailing by a 2-0 score, Avon cut the lead to one in the fifth inning. Zack Aiello singled, moved to third base on Jake Coppen’s double to centerfield and scored on a sacrifice fly from Connor Harris.

Avon (3-10) tied the game in the top of the seventh inning. Catcher Ryan Ollestad reached on an error, moved to second base on a wild pitch and took third base on Aiello’s single. Ollestad scored on a sacrifice fly from Coppen.

Southington prevailed in the bottom of the eighth on a two-out single to centerfield from Keith Leifert.

The next game for Avon will be at Windsor on Friday at 3:45 p.m.

Southington 3, Avon 2 (8)
At Southington
Avon (3-10)                        000  010  10 – 2-6-1
Southington (7-8)             001  100  01 – 3-9-1
Jake Coppen, Miles Borenstein (7) and Ryan Ollestad; Jake Neuman, Justin Verrilli (8) and unknown; WP: Verrilli; LP: Borenstein; 2B: Coppen (A), Jeremy Mercier (S)

Simsbury rebounds
WEST HARTFORD, May 9 – A day after having their five-game winning streak snapped in a five-inning, mercy rule loss to Farmington, the Simsbury High baseball team got back on the winning track with an 11-0 win over Conard in six innings.

Simsbury (10-5) had 13 hits and seven extra-base hits led by Luke Benneche, who was 3-for-3 with three RBI and a home run. Blake Chapman was 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI. Jack Donofrio earned the win on the mound, going 5 2/3 innings, allowing two hits and striking out 12.

On Tuesday, Farmington’s Tyler Cortland pitched five innings, allowing just one run and striking out two in Farmington’s 11-0 win over the Trojans. Zac Conrad led Farmington’s 13-hit attack with three hits. Cortland and Alex Sowinski each had three RBI to lead the Indians (5-8).

Simsbury 11, Conard 0 (6)
At West Hartford
Simsbury (10-5)                000  326 – 11-13-1
Conard (10-4)                    000  000  — 0-2-1
Jack Donofrio, Aidan Shugrue (6) and Ryan Caufield; Anthony Carabello, Maxwell Main (5), Matt Langevin (6) and unknown; WP: Donofrio; LP: Carabello; 2B: Blake Chapman (S), Peter Phillips (S), Mason Valentino (S), Brandon White (S); 3B: Tate Valerio (S); HR: Luke Benneche (S), Tate Valerio (S)

Farmington 11, Simsbury 1 (5)
At Farmington
Simsbury (9-5)                   001  00 – 1-5-0
Farmington (5-8)              221  42 – 11-13-1
Peter Phillips, Aidan Shugrue (4), Justin Sabadosa (5) and Ryan Caufield; Tyler Cortland and unknown; WP: Cortland; LP: Phillips; 2B: Zac Conrad (F)