Fourth-seeded Avon took advantage of four Kendall errors to score three unearned runs on their way to a 3-0 victory over the Eagles in the Section V Class CC baseball final played at Dwyer Stadium in Batavia.
The Eagles committed two errors in the first inning to allow Avon to score the game’s first run without a hit and take a 1-0 lead. It marked the first time Kendall trailed in a game during Sectionals.
The Braves added a run in the fifth and another in the sixth for the only scoring as Kendall lefthander Alex Sutphen limited them to just three hits while striking out eight.
The Eagles threatened in the second inning when first baseman Garrett Love led off with a double to right center, third baseman Cody Spellan walked and right fielder Zach Vogt was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but the Braves induced a fly-out to end the threat.
Senior catcher Richie Swift had a one-out single off the third baseman’s glove with one out in the third, but was later stranded at second.
And senior leftfielder Dave Hardenbrook tripled to right with two-outs in the fourth, but was tagged after overrunning the base.
The last nine Eagles were retired in order through the last three innings in their first trip to the finals since 2000.
“They were better than us today, but we had a good run,” said Kendall head coach Tige Noni. “Sutphen threw every inning all through Sectionals and pitched well again today, but we didn’t support him.
“As the tenth seed no one expected us to be here (the final), but we caught fire at the end, hit the ball well and played good defense except for today.”
