Undefeated Avon (4-0) hands Canton first loss of the season in a rout

Avon pitcher Jessica Mizia allowed just two hits and struck out six as the Falcons rolled to a 19-1 win over Canton on Saturday.

AVON, April 11, 2026 – In his first year with the Avon High softball program, there was little margin for error for head coach Michael Mihalek. There were 11 girls in the program so nearly-perfect attendance was necessary to put a team on the field.

It wasn’t an issue in 2022 as the Falcons won a program-record 19 games and advanced to the semifinals of a CIAC state tournament for the first time since 1976.

Four years later, there are 15 girls in the program, new sharp pinstripe uniforms for the girls and a new field at Sperry Park to play on.

And the Falcons are off to a strong start with four consecutive wins, including a 19-1 win over Canton in five innings on Saturday at the Sperry Park field.

In their first four games of the season, Avon has allowed just five runs with two shutouts.

Sophomore pitcher Jessica Mizia threw her second career no-hitter on Tuesday in an 11-0 win over Wethersfield as the Falcons rapped out 12 hits. Mizia struck out five in five innings of work.

On Monday, Avon had 12 hits in a 9-0 opening day win over Middletown in the first-ever game on the new Sperry Field turf. On Friday, the Falcons had 13 hits in a 20-4 win over Farmington with freshman pitcher Lena Stortz going five innings and striking out six.

“We have a really good freshman class that has come in and they’re a great compliment,” Mihalek said. “We have good senior leadership in centerfielder Eve Beloin, who will go play at Hamilton and Madison Jette is a junior, who was All-Conference last year.”

There are just four upperclassmen on the team – Beloin and three juniors. The remainder are freshmen and sophomores.

“There is a lot of youth but they all just play the game really hard and they work really hard,” Mihalek said.

Second baseman Lena Stortz tries to get a glove on a ball in Saturday’s non-league victory over Canton at Sperry Park.

It didn’t take long for Avon (4-0) to take command on Saturday with six runs in the first inning and another 10 runs in the second inning.

Beloin led the way by going 3-for-4 with a double, triple and five RBI. Freshman shortstop Fallyn Banks was 2-for-4 with her second home run of the season and three RBI. Catcher Anna Kelley drove in two runs while second baseman Stortz was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Outfielder Brianna Connellan scored three runs.

The Falcons had a season-high 15 hits in the contest. Beloin hit the first triple at Sperry Field.

Banks had the first home run at the field in the win over Middletown while Beloin had the first double on the new diamond. Middletown’s Kyleigh Franklin had the first hit, a single in the first inning while Mizia had the first strikeout in in the first inning against Middletown’s M. Eldridge.

Connellan had the first walk at Sperry Park and scored the first run against Middletown. Connellan scored from first base on Beloin’s RBI double in the first inning.

Canton players congratulate catcher Reagan Grecula after her solo home run in Saturday’s loss to Avon at Sperry Park.

Canton (3-1) dropped their first game of the season after three dominating victories that all ended after five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

The Warriors beat Gilbert, 15-5, Bolton, 19-6 and Windsor Locks/East Granby, 15-5 earlier this week. Canton had 16 hits against Bolton and 13 against Windsor Locks/East Granby with junior Mackenzie Robinson hitting a pair of home runs.

Sophomore pitcher Dylan Ward picked up victories in all three games.

Against Avon, Canton couldn’t get much going with their bats. Senior catcher Reagan Grecula was the only player to get hits. She had a single and a solo home run in the third inning.

It was the largest win by the Falcons over Canton (18 runs) since at least 1991. Avon won by 13 runs a year ago.

Since 1991, Canton has a 36-12 record against Avon. The two teams were members of the North Central Connecticut Conference through 2015 before Avon left for the Central Connecticut Conference.

Avon hits the road on Monday to face Plainville while Canton returns to action on Monday by visiting defending league champion Coventry.

Avon 19, Canton 1 (5)
At Avon
Canton (3-1)               0   0  1  00  — 1-2-5
Avon (4-0)                  6(10)2  1x  – 19-15-1
Dylan Ward and Reagan Grecula; Jessica Mizia and Anna Kelley; WP: Mizia; LP: Ward; 2B: Eve Beloin (A), Fallyn Banks (A), Meredith Parker (A); 3B: Beloin; HR: Banks, Grecula; Of note: Beloin 3-4, double, triple,1 run scored, 5 RBI; M Parker 3-3, 3 runs scored, 2 RBI. Banks 2-4, HR, 3 RBI; Mizia on the mound, 2 hits allowed, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts in 5 IP; Grecula (C) 2-3, RBI

Canton faces Avon on the new Sperry Park softball field on Saturday, April 11. It is the second game on the new field.

Sperry Park milestones
A series of firsts for varsity softball at the new Sperry Park softball diamond, which sits where the old Towpath School used to be located.
First game: Avon 9, Middletown 0, Monday, April 6, 2026
First hit: Kyleigh Franklin, Middletown, single, April 6
First double: Eve Beloin, Avon, first inning, April 6
First triple: Eve Beloin, Avon vs. Canton, April 11
First home run: Fallyn Banks, Avon vs. Middletown, April 6
First RBI: Beloin, Avon, first inning vs. Middletown, April 6
First strikeout: Jessica Mizia, Avon vs. Middletown , April 6
First steal: Kyleigh Frankin, Middletown vs. Avon, April 6 (first inning)
First walk: Brianna Connellan, Avon vs. Middletown, April 6 (first inning)
First run: Brianna Connellan, Avon vs. Middletown, April 6
First double play: Middletown vs. Avon, April 6, first inning
First run by an opponent: Canton, April 11
First HR by an opponent: Reagan Grecula, April 11