Avon’s Ben Suski had one of three hits for Post 201 in Monday night’s loss to Southington.
AVON, June 30 – Southington American Legion pitcher Joe Rivera kept Avon off balance all night as Post 72 snapped a four-game losing streak with a 7-0 Zone 1 victory over Avon Monday night at Avon Old Farms.
Rivera, who graduated from Southington High earlier this month and will attend UConn next fall, went the distance, allowing only three hits and striking out 13.
“It’s the best he has pitched all season,” Southington assistant coach Jeff Shaw said. “He was around the plate all night. The biggest thing is that he has his knee-bending curve ball. The hitters are all geared up for his 90 mph fastball and he brings that (curve ball) out.”
Avon (11-2) threatened just once. Post 201 had just one hit through five innings – a second inning single from Ben Suski. Trailing 4-0 with one out in the sixth inning, Andrew LeDuc beat out a shallow fly ball into right field for a single. Ben Lombard followed with a single to center field on the first pitch he saw from Rivera.
Sean Del Gallo struck out but Rivera hit Matt Williamson to load the bases. However, Rivera jammed Avon’s Cody Doyle and his fly ball was grabbed by the second baseman to end the threat.
“He was on tonight,” Avon coach Brian Doyle said of Rivera. “Overpowering. He’s the best pitcher I’ve seen this year. Sometimes, good pitching beats good hitting.”
Southington’s four runs in the third inning were all unearned thanks to three errors. In the top of the seventh, Post 72 added three more runs on a two-RBI double from Joe Daigle and a RBI single from Josh Marchard.
“We were due to break out. These kids will hit,” Shaw said. Southington scored just four runs in the last four games while allowing just nine.
Prior to Monday night’s win, the last win for Southington came in a 2-0 win over Avon last Thursday night. Post 72 is the only team to have beaten Avon this summer.
The victory boosted Southington to 6-6 while Avon slips to 11-2. Post 201 remains a game ahead in the loss column ahead of Simsbury, now 8-3 after splitting a doubleheader with Bristol on Sunday evening at Memorial Field. Terryville is third at 8-6 with Bristol fourth at 6-5.
Avon hosts Winsted (2-10) on Tuesday night at Avon Old Farms at 5:45 p.m. and Bristol on Thursday night at AOF.
Southington 7, Avon 0
At Avon
Southington (6-6) 004 000 3 – 7-11-0
Avon (11-2) 000 000 0 – 0-3-3
Joe Rivera and Zach Susi; Justin Olson, Conner McCutcheon (6) and Cody Doyle; WP: Rivera; LP: Olson; 2B: Joe Daigle (S)
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