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Avon rallies to beat Simsbury for District 6 championship, 10-4

Avon Little League teammates rush to celebrate with Connor Lavore after he hit a home run in Thursday night’s District 6 championship game against Simsbury. Avon won, 10-4.

CANTON, July 12 – It could have been a devastating defeat but losing in the first game of the championship round wasn’t anything new for the Avon Little League baseball team.

Avon lost to Simsbury in the finals of the District 6 Major Division tournament (ages 10-12) on Wednesday night on a throwing error in the bottom of the eighth inning, losing for the first time this summer. Since it is a double-elimination tournament, Avon got another chance.

Avon took advantage. They erased a one-run deficit with a seven-run fifth inning to beat Simsbury, 10-4 and capture their third Major Division championship in the last four years. Simsbury (7-2) committed two errors in the fifth inning, walked two batters and hit a batter.

Avon (7-1) advances to the state tournament and will play in the three-team Section II group beginning on Tuesday in Naugatuck. The winner of the group advances to the four-team double elimination state championship finals in East Lyme on July 25-29.

Avon second baseman Drew Fitting makes the tag on Simsbury’s Jacob Cohen in Thursday night’s District 6 championship game in Canton. Avon won, 10-6.

Avon led 3-0 after three innings only to see Simsbury rally to take a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth inning. But Avon didn’t panic. A year ago, Avon dropped the first game of the championship series in the District 6 Minor Division (ages 9-11) before rallying to win the second game, 13-3 and capture the D6 championship.

“The kids did it last year (win a District 6 championship) in the same spot,” Avon manager Lee Fitting said. “That what these kids do. It’s all them. They weren’t worried. They were composed and they knew what the outcome would be tonight.

“They played Avon baseball,” he said. “They stuck together as a team and supported each other.”

It wasn’t one or two players. Everyone chipped in some way. Avon had just six hits – from six players. Two additional players drove in runs after coaxing walks with the bases loaded. Two Avon pitchers gave up eight hits but they struck out six.

Avon took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run single from Chase Beloin. They extended it to 3-0 in the third inning on a solo home run from Connor Lavore.

Simsbury celebrates after taking a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning of Thursday night’s District 6 championship game.

Simsbury (7-2) didn’t go quietly. They scored two runs on a throwing error and a third run on a RBI single from starting pitcher Jack Sheldon to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth inning. Avon reliever Jake Coppen got a strikeout and his defense turned a double play to help keep Avon in the game.

Simsbury took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning. Ryan Donahue singled, moved to second on a wild pitch, took third base on an infield ground ball and scored on another wild pitch.

Avon broke open the game in the fifth inning, sending 11 men to the plate, scoring seven runs on three hits. Simsbury made two errors and gave up two walks as Avon took a 10-4 lead. Tyler Assan-Gracy had a two-run single for Avon.

Other Avon hits came from Coppen, Colin Miley, Lavore, Beloin and Drew Fitting. For Simsbury, Sheldon had two hits while Donahue, Petras, Brendan Lynch, T.J. Pearlman, Mitchell Wallman and Jacob Cohen each had singles.

Avon’s Harrison Engle chases down a Simsbury runner in Thursday night’s District 6 title game in Canton.

Eleven of the 12 Avon players were members of last year’s District 6 championship team in the Minor Division. And they also won a District 6 title three years ago in the 8-10 division.

“They’re the best of friends,” Lee Fitting said. “They’re a tight-knit group and they support each other.”

It was the eleventh District 6 Major Division championship for Avon since 1991 when they won their first D6 title. Simsbury owns the District 6 record with 26 championships.

Avon 10, Simsbury 4
At Canton
Simsbury (7-2)                 000  310 – 4-8-2
Avon (7-1)                         201  07x – 10-6-1
Jack Sheldon, Austin Coiro (5) and Ty Petras; Colin Miley, Luke Coppin (4) and Jacob Wirth; WP: Coppin; LP: Sheldon; 2B: none; 3B: none; HR: Connor Lavore (A)

2018 District 6 Major Division Baseball
Pool A
Avon 5, Granby/East Granby 3
Avon 7, Burlington 4
Avon 5, Torrington 1
Avon 3, Granby/East Granby 2
Burlington 1, Torrington 0
Burlington 7, Granby/East Granby 2
Torrington 11, Burlington 7
Granby/East Granby 10, Torrington 0
Standings: Avon 4-0, Burlington 2-2, Granby/East Granby 1-3, Torrington 1-3

Pool B
Simsbury 6, Canton 0
Simsbury 7, Tri-Town 2
Simsbury 10, Terryville 0
Simsbury 7, Canton 2
Canton 8, Tri-Town 6
Canton 16, Terryville 0
Terryville 2, Tri-Town 1
Terryville 5, Tri-Town 3
Standings: Simsbury 4-0, Canton 2-2, Terryville 2-2, Tri-Town 0-4

Double-elimination
Avon 11, Canton 1
Burlington 6, Simsbury 2
Avon 10, Burlington 4
Consolation round
Simsbury 10, Canton 3, Canton eliminated
Simsbury 7, Burlington 2, Burlington eliminated
Championship round
Simsbury 3, Avon 2 (8)
Avon 10, Simsbury 4, Simsbury eliminated

For the third time in the last four years, Avon has won the District 6 Major Division title.

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 40 years. He was inducted into the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Kathleen Engle

    July 13, 2018 at 1:47 pm

    Thank you for the great coverage!!!
    Couple of corrections to the article. Avon advances to the Sectional tournament. The sectional tournament is a 3 team tournament with the winners from District 3, District 5 and District 6. The 4th picture is the Avon 3rd baseman Harrison Engle who chased down the Simsbury runner 🙂

  2. Lesley Norris

    July 14, 2018 at 3:11 pm

    It is saddening to quote the Avon coach so arrogant regarding the win. To say you all knew the outcome is degrading and disrespectful to Simsbury. I hope the victors in your upcoming tournament are more humble in their win, Coach. Most winners thank their rivals and compliment them on a game well played. There is a point when the heir of entitlement will wear out.

    So, I would like to congratulate the Simsbury team. They worked extremely hard and displayed dignity in every win. You did wonderfully, boys! Congrats on being number 2! It is not a bad place to be!

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