Simsbury scores six runs in final two innings to hold off upset bid from Avon

Simsbury’s Jack Donofrio hit his second home run of the season Saturday in a 6-3 win over Avon at Memorial Field. (Photo courtesy Scott Kerr)

SIMSBURY, May 18 – It’s been a long week of baseball for the Simsbury High baseball team. Saturday’s CCC West game with Avon at Memorial Field was the fourth game in five days for the Trojans.

Included in those four games was an 11-inning marathon win over Farmington on Wednesday with Jack Donofrio scoring the winning run after he walked, stole second base, swiped third base and then stole home in the bottom of the 11th inning. On Thursday, Simsbury went nine innings with South Windsor before falling, 7-6.

Simsbury was in no mood to play extra innings against Avon. The Trojans erased an early two-run deficit and scored six runs in the fifth and sixth inning to beat visiting Avon, 6-3 at Memorial Field for their fifth win in the last six games.

Avon (3-15) took an early 2-0 lead in the third inning. Max Raha singled to left field, stole second base and stole third base. He scored on Zack Aiello’s RBI double to left field. Aiello moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI single from Miles Borenstein.

The Falcons tried to extend their lead in the fifth inning. Avon loaded the bases on three walks from Simsbury reliever Dylan Leonard but Leonard rallied to strike out Blaise Engle to end the threat.

Simsbury (10-7) finally broke through in the fifth inning. Luke Benneche led off the inning with a double off Avon starter Daniel Bae. Ryan Laubscher singled to left field but Bae was able to get the next two batters out.

Simsbury’s Kevin Gallagher put the Trojans on the board with a two-RBI double to centerfield that tied the game at 2-2.

The Falcons brought in reliever Ben Angus but he gave up a two-run home run to Donofrio – his second home run of the season – that gave Simsbury a 4-2 advantage.

Avon got a run back in the sixth inning. Raha singled with one out and stole second base. He scored on Aiello’s RBI single to cut the lead to one, 4-3.

Simsbury secured the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Leonard reached on an error and stole third base before scoring on a second infield error by the Falcons. A solo home run from Benneche – his second home run in two games – extended the lead to 6-3.

Donofrio picked up his first save of the season in the seventh, striking out the final two batters of the game.

Aiello was 3-for-4 for Avon with two RBI while Raha was 2-for-2. For Simsbury, Benneche was 2-for-3 with a double, home run and one RBI.

Simsbury returns to action on Monday when they travel to Glastonbury while Avon visits Farmington on Monday night at 6 p.m. at Tunxis Meade Park.

Simsbury 6, Avon 3
At Simsbury
Avon (3-15)                    002  001  0  — 3-7-4
Simsbury (10-7)            000  042  x  — 6-5-0
Daniel Bae, Ben Angus (5) and Matt Arciero; Aidan Shugrue, Dylan Leonard (4), Tyler Gutsfeld (6), Jack Donofrio (7) and unknown; WP: Leonard (2-1); LP: Bae (0-2); Save: Donofrio (1); 2B: Zack Aiello (A), Luke Benneche (S), Kevin Gallagher (S); HR: Benneche (S), Donofrio (S)