Bethel handcuffs Avon in Junior Legion tournament opener, 6-1

Avon Junior Legion player Brayden Nemarich had a triple in Tuesday’s 6-1 loss to Bethel in the Junior Legion state tournament.

BETHEL, July 24 – Pitcher Nicholas Viera didn’t allow a hit and struck out 11 batters in five innings of work to help lift the Bethel Junior American Legion baseball team (under 17) to a 6-1 victory over Avon in the Group G opener for both teams in the state Junior Legion baseball tournament Tuesday.

Avon (11-14) had five hits – all in the final two innings. Brayden Nemarich had a triple in the seventh inning for Avon and scored on a RBI single from teammate Tyler Nyberg.

Peter Baja was 2-for-3 with two RBI for Bethel (24-1). Baja scored a run when he stole home earlier in the game. Joshua Taylor had a RBI double for Bethel while teammate Sammy Smith had a triple.

Avon faces Wilton (10-12) on Thursday on the road in a Group G elimination game.

Bethel 6, Avon 1
At Bethel
Avon (11-14)                  000  000  1  — 1-5-2
Bethel (24-1)                  023  100  x  — 6-5-0
Arjun Grover, Milian Jain (4) and unknown; Nicholas Viera, Nick Marachak (6) and unknown; WP: Viera; LP: Grover; 2B: Joshua Taylor (B); 3B: Brayden Nemarich (A), Sammy Smith (B)

Northern Division
Sunday July 22
Play-in Game
South Windsor 5, Niantic 4

Group A
Tuesday July 24
First round
Bristol 11, Windsor 2
Tri-County 10, Ledyard/Pawcatuck 3
Wednesday, July 25
Tri-County at Bristol
Windsor at Ledyard/Pawcatuck, loser eliminated
Friday, July 27
Elimination game
Sunday, July 29
Championship round

Group B
Monday July 23
First round
Cheshire 6, Glastonbury 2
Jewett City 8, East Hartford 5
Wednesday, July 25
Game 3: Glastonbury vs. East Hartford, loser eliminated
Game 4: Cheshire at Jewett City
Friday, July 27
Elimination game
Sunday, July 29
Championship round

Group C
Monday July 23
First round
Ellington 2, South Windsor 0
Tuesday, July 24

West Hartford 6, Manchester 1
Wednesday, July 25
West Hartford at Ellington
South Windsor at Manchester, loser eliminated
Friday, July 27
Elimination game
Sunday, July 29
Championship round

Group D
Tuesday July 24
First round
Middletown 5, RCP 1
Tolland 5, Tri-Town Red 4
Wednesday, July 25
Tolland at Middletown
RCP at Tri-Town Red, loser eliminated
Friday, July 27
Elimination game
Sunday, July 29
Championship round

Southern Division
Group E
Monday July 23
First round
Hamden 2, Fairfield 1
Tuesday, July 24
Oakville 1, Branford 0
Wednesday, July 25
Oakville at Hamden
Fairfield at Branford, loser eliminated
Friday, July 27
Elimination game
Sunday, July 29
Championship round

Group F
Monday July 23
First round
Greenwich 5, Wolcott 4
Orange 3, Trumbull 0
Wednesday, July 25
Second round
Wolcott at Trumbull, loser eliminated. Orange at Greenwich
Friday, July 27
Elimination game
Sunday, July 29
Championship round

Group G
Monday July 23
First round
East Haven 8, Wilton 1
Tuesday, July 24
Bethel 6, Avon 1
Wednesday, July 25
East Haven at Bethel
Avon at Wilton, loser eliminated
Friday, July 27
Elimination game
Sunday, July 29
Championship round

Group H
Monday July 23
First round
Stamford 8, West Haven 0
North Haven 6, Greenwich Blue 0
Wednesday, July 25
Second round
West Haven at Greenwich Blue, loser eliminated
North Haven at Stamford
Friday, July 27
Elimination game
Sunday, July 29
Championship round