Eagles hold on for 6-5 baseball victory over Keystone

Trevor Sykora and Sam Griffiths each had two hits Friday as host Avon held on to edge Keystone, 6-5, in non-conference baseball action.

The 12-13 Eagles never trailed, and each time Keystone fought back to tie the score, Avon would answer in the bottom of the inning. The Wildcats knotted things at 1-1 in the third inning, only to have Avon score three times in the bottom of the frame. Keystone then tied the score at 4-4 in the fifth and then Avon answered with two runs to take the lead for good.

It was a game that saw a lot of action on the basepaths, as the visitors had nine hits and walked eight times, while the Eagles had five hits and walked 11 times. Keystone left 14 runners on base and Avon stranded 11.

Sykora had two doubles, scored twice and knocked in two runs. Griffiths had two singles, scored once and knocked in two. Lucas Pintar had Avon’s other hit and also knocked in a run. Both Kyle Delury and Bryce Chura walked three times for Avon and Delury had three stolen bases and scored a run.

The Eagles used six different pitchers who combined to allow just two earned runs, striking out seven. Evan Masuga pitched the final two innings for the victory, allowing an unearned run in the top of the seventh before getting the final out.

Next on the schedule for Avon is a first round tournament game at Brecksville-Broadview Heights on Tuesday.