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By: Bruce Bosley
PBR New England Scout

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Vermont Spotlight Game: No. 4 Hartford vs No. 1 Essex

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. -- Senior righty Abe Koval tossed a four-hitter to out-duel Jordan Allard, the Vermont Gatorade Player of the Year, as top-seeded Essex knocked off fourth-seeded Hartford, 4-1, in the semifinals of the Vermont Division I Baseball Championship Wednesday afternoon. The Hornets (17-2) move on to the title game where they will take on second-seeded Burr and Burton at historic Centennial Field in Burlington on Saturday.

Koval went the distance in the 1:32 minute game allowing only an unearned run in the third. He was aided by an excellent defensive effort behind him with the Hornets turning two big double plays to end threats including a game-ending twin-killing with the tying run at the plate.

Hartford jumped on top 1-0 in the third on a two-out RBI single by junior Hunter Perkins that scored Nicholas Wright, who reached on an error and was sacrificed to second by junior Tyler Hamilton. It looked like one run might be enough for the hard throwing Allard, who retired Essex in order in each of the first three innings striking out five of the first nine hitters he faced.

The Hornets broke through in Allard's second time through the order. Speedy senior Tyler Roberge, headed to Johnson and Wales, led the fourth with a single to center moving to second on a walk to Koval. Junior Maverick King laced a single to center bringing home Roberge with Koval and King moving up a base on the throw home. Kovak score on a passed ball to make it 2-1 with King moving to third. King broke for home on a suicide squeeze attempt as the pitch went in the dirt just wide of the plate and and he scored to make it 3-1. Sophomore Robby Meslin led the Essex fourth with a single, stole second and moved to third on a ground out. Another sophomore, Grady Cram singled him home for the fourth run.

Hartford threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with a single, walk and hit batter with one out before Koval pitched out of it inducing two pop-ups. Riley Packard was hit by a pitch to lead the Hurricanes seventh and one out later, Hamilton was hit as well to bring the tying run to the plate. But Essex closed it out on a double play on a heads-up play by leftfielder senior Casey Mulrow who snagged an outfield pop before his throw doubled off a runner at second for the final out.

The loss was the first of the season for Allard, who concluded his standout senior season at 7-1. The Hurricanes finish their season at 12-4 falling in the semis for the second straight season.

Top Performers

Essex:

• Maverick King (2018, 1B/RHP): lefty hitter went 1-for-3 with an RBI-single hitting the ball hard twice off the hardest throwing hurler in Vermont.
• Abe Koval (2017, RHP/OF): Headed for Lyndon (Vt.) State in the fall, needed less than 90 pitches in the complete game win allowing four hits, two walks, two hitter batters while striking out three.

Hartford:

• Hunter Perkins (2018, IF/LHP): Lefty hitter, he went 2-for-3 driving in the team's lone run with a two-out single in the third.
• Jordan Allard (2017, RHP/SS): In last high school start before heading to D-II powe Southern New Hampshire in the fall, he struck out seven and walked two allowing six hits. He wraps up a great season with an 0.50 ERA along with 85 strikeouts and only four walks in 45.1 innings.