By Phil Wade
Director of Operations, PBR Indiana 

Avon, IN---Avon came into Monday’s contest ranked No. 19 in this week’s Power 25 Poll.  The Orioles were an impressive 6-1 and were looking to take game one of a two game set against Hoosier Crossroads Conference foe Westfield. 

Avon looked to be in control early holding a 5-1 lead after the second inning.  Leading 1-0 going into the second, Avon’s Cole Johnson (2013) hit a two RBI triple which was followed shortly by senior Dylan Jones’ (left) two run blast over the left field wall. 

The Orioles added one more in the third inning when Zach Lebo (2013) launched a fastball over the fence to give Avon a commanding 6-1 lead.  Lebo’s solo homerun, however, would be the last run Avon would put on the board.

The young Westfield squad, only three seniors on the roster, never backed down despite the early five run deficit.  Trailing by five in the top of the fourth, the Shamrocks got things going on consecutive base hits from Casey Shaw (2013) and Alec Nelson (2014).  Both Shaw and Nelson would move up a base on an errant throw back into the infield, setting up runners on second and third.  Sophomore Jacob Robinson then hit an RBI single, followed by an RBI sac fly from junior Matt Kinney to cut the deficit to three.  After Nathan Manworren’s walk, sophomore Chris Ayers ripped a double to right, knocking in another Westfield run.  Now down two runs, Westfield’s sophomore Bailey Partlow (right) kept the rally going by hitting a three run homerun giving Westfield the one run lead.

The Shamrock’s offense continued to produce in the fifth; putting three more runs on the board.   Robinson hit another RBI single, while Jake Dietz knocked in two off of his base hit.  At the end of five, Westfield held a 10-6 lead. 

The Shamrocks scratched across one more run in the sixth on Shaw’s sac fly to give Westfield the commanding 11-6 lead, which would be the final score.

Avon travels to Westfield today for game two.

**To read scouting notes from this game, read next week's PBR Plus article “Indiana Notebook”**