The Italy Gladiators wrap up district title with 16-1 win over the Avalon Eagles

Image: Italy’s junior pitcher Tyler Anderson(7) records 6 strikeouts while facing 19 Avalon batters to get the 16-1 win for the Gladiators.

Italy’s junior pitcher Tyler Anderson(7) records 6 strikeouts while facing 19 Avalon batters to get the 16-1 win for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Avalon’s Tim Cashion(22) holds a sliding John “Squirt” Hughes on first base.

Avalon’s Tim Cashion(22) holds a sliding John “Squirt” Hughes on first base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Gladiator Marvin Cox(3) gets on base with a double.

Gladiator Marvin Cox(3) gets on base with a double. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Marvin Cox(3) steals third and then brushes with Avalon’s Brian Romero(17) as the ball gets away allowing Cox to score for the Gladiators.

Italy’s Marvin Cox(3) steals third and then brushes with Avalon’s Brian Romero(17) as the ball gets away allowing Cox to score for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Game changer: Caden Jacinto(1) and John Hughes(6) holdup with a high fly ball hit to centerfield by teammate Reid Jacinto having a chance to clear the fence.

Game changer: Caden Jacinto(1) and John Hughes(6) holdup with a high fly ball hit to centerfield by teammate Reid Jacinto having a chance to clear the fence.

Image: Italy senior Reid Jacinto(5) leaps onto home plate after hitting a 3 run, out-of-the-park home run with his teammates ready to welcome Jacinto home.

Italy senior Reid Jacinto(5) leaps onto home plate after hitting a 3 run, out-of-the-park home run with his teammates ready to welcome Jacinto home. (Barry Byers)

Image: Hayden Woods(8) congratulates fellow senior Reid Jacinto(5) on going yard.

Hayden Woods(8) congratulates fellow senior Reid Jacinto(5) on going yard. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy junior Kevin Roldan(16) follows up the 3 run over the fence homer by Reid Jacinto with a solo out-of-the-park home run of his own.

Italy junior Kevin Roldan(16) follows up the 3 run over the fence homer by Reid Jacinto with a solo out-of-the-park home run of his own. (Barry Byers)

Image: Kevin Roldan(16) runs to first as he watches his hit clear the fence for Italy’s second homerun of the game.

Kevin Roldan(16) runs to first as he watches his hit clear the fence for Italy’s second homerun of the game. (Barry Byers)

Image: Way to go, Kev! Kevin Roldan(16) is congratulated by his teammates after his mega hit.

Way to go, Kev! Kevin Roldan(16) is congratulated by his teammates after his mega hit. (Barry Byers)

Image: The trifecta! After congratulating teammates Reid Jacinto and Kevin Roldan on their outside-the-park home runs, senior Gladiator Cole Hopkins(9) decides that he too wants to get congratulated by swatting an Avalon pitch over the right field fence for a solo homerun.

The trifecta! After congratulating teammates Reid Jacinto and Kevin Roldan on their outside-the-park home runs, senior Gladiator Cole Hopkins(9) decides that he too wants to get congratulated by swatting an Avalon pitch over the right field fence for a solo homerun. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cole Hopkins gets congratulated by head coach Josh Ward as he rounds third base and then trots home to complete his, “It’s outta-here,” homer against Avalon.

Cole Hopkins gets congratulated by head coach Josh Ward as he rounds third base and then trots home to complete his, “It’s outta-here,” homer against Avalon. (Barry Byers)

Image: Cole Hopkins(9) is greeted by teammates as he steps on home plate after hitting the third homerun in a back-to-back-to-back homerun bonanza by Italy.

Cole Hopkins(9) is greeted by teammates as he steps on home plate after hitting the third homerun in a back-to-back-to-back homerun bonanza by Italy. (Barry Byers)

Image: Baseball in picture may be closer than appears! Italy sophomore John Byers(21) fouls a potential lens breaker at the camera.

Baseball in picture may be closer than appears! Italy sophomore John Byers(21) fouls a potential lens breaker at the camera. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Chase Hamilton(10) rockets a double into Avalon’s outfield.

Senior Chase Hamilton(10) rockets a double into Avalon’s outfield. (Barry Byers)

Image: Coach Brian Coffman congratulates Hayden Woods(8) on joining the party at first base.

Coach Brian Coffman congratulates Hayden Woods(8) on joining the party at first base. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s Hayden Woods(8) races toward third base after a hit ball as Avalon’s Christian Gatlin(4) tracks down the grounder.

Italy’s Hayden Woods(8) races toward third base after a hit ball as Avalon’s Christian Gatlin(4) tracks down the grounder. (Barry Byers)

Image: Senior Reid Jacinto(5) is still smiling after hitting an over-the-fence home run earlier in the contest.

Senior Reid Jacinto(5) is still smiling after hitting an over-the-fence home run earlier in the contest. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s John Byers(18) and Tyler Anderson(7) watch the action from the dugout.

Italy’s John Byers(18) and Tyler Anderson(7) watch the action from the dugout. (Barry Byers)

Image: Avalon catcher Blake McCulloch(12) catches a 3rd out popup hit by Italy’s Reid Jacinto(5) to keep the sliding Hayden Woods(8) from scoring another run for the Gladiators.

Avalon catcher Blake McCulloch(12) catches a 3rd out popup hit by Italy’s Reid Jacinto(5) to keep the sliding Hayden Woods(8) from scoring another run for the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy freshman Ryan Connor(4) gets on base with a single.

Italy freshman Ryan Connor(4) gets on base with a single. (Barry Byers)

Image: Winning the district title was kids play for right fielder Kevin Roldan(16) and the Gladiators.

Winning the district title was kids play for right fielder Kevin Roldan(16) and the Gladiators. (Barry Byers)

Image: Italy’s freshman catcher Ryan Connor(4) comes up throwing.

Italy’s freshman catcher Ryan Connor(4) comes up throwing. (Barry Byers)

Image: The tag attempt by Avalon’s Reece Marshall(3) is too late to keep Italy’s Marvin Cox(3) from returning to first base safely.

The tag attempt by Avalon’s Reece Marshall(3) is too late to keep Italy’s Marvin Cox(3) from returning to first base safely. (Barry Byers)

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