Amherst Baseball Classic: Connor Izquierdo sparks Avon with pinch-hit home run

ELYRIA — What a way to hit your first career home run. Connor Izquierdo, an incoming Avon sophomore, bided his time on the bench but when he was called to pinch hit with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the sixth inning, he didn't waste any time. He hit the first pitch he saw over the left-field fence to put Avon ahead for the first time all night and the Eagles defeated Elyria 11-10 in the Amherst Summer Classic at George Day Field in Elyria. "It felt great, it was my first home run ever," Izquierdo said. "Sweet swing and the ball carried." "That's what he said to me as he rounded third," Avon coach Pat Scholla said. "It was pretty cool. He put a good swing on it. It was awesome. We needed it." Up to that point, it appeared Elyria was on its way to a second straight Summer Classic win. The Pioneers built a 5-1 lead after two innings and still led 7-6 after five when Izquierdo was called to pinch hit. His grand slam put Avon in front 10-7, but Elyria tied it in the bottom of the sixth. Rocco Schneider led off with an infield single, Brayden Barbee singled with Schneider advancing to third, Barbee moved up on the throw from the outfield and Schneider scored on a ground out. Mason Burnette singled in Barbee and Kobe Whittiker ran for Burnette and scored on a ground ball after singles by Brayden Darmafall and Domingo Ortiz had loaded the bases. Avon won it in the top of the seventh when Elliott Brooks reached on an error, stole second and scored on a single by Lucas Perniciaro off the left fielder's glove. Dario Gomez came in to strike out the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the seventh and got the final out on a line drive to third. "This is an awesome tournament and I say it every year," Scholla said. "It's all about development in our program. We had almost 30 guys here and they all touched the field." For Elyria coach David Elbert, it was a learning experience for his Pioneers. "From where we've been the last couple of years, in those situations, we would have completely collapsed," he said. "Once any adversity hit, a play doesn't go our way, we knew we would be done. The way this team fought back ... they didn't give up, kept playing hard. That's the turnover we're looking for." Contact Tim Gebhardt at 329-7135 or at timothygeb@msn.com.