MERIDEN — No hit was more grand than Ryan Lavender’s hit in the top of the fifth inning during Wednesday’s baseball game between the Berlin Redcoats and the Maloney Spartans.
Leading Maloney 9-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning with the bases loaded, Lavender hit a deep fly ball to center field that went out of the park for a grand slam, giving Berlin a 13-2 lead.
The Spartans only garnered a run in the bottom of the fifth, resulting in a 13-3 five-inning win for Berlin.
Prior to Lavender’s grand slam, Berlin trailed Maloney 2-0 after the first inning, but quickly took a 3-2 lead with three runs in the second inning. Jack Swanson hit a three-run RBI on a line drive to center field as Gavin Bennett, Tyler Bennett, and Zach McAdam each scored.
Berlin added four runs in the third inning, to take a 7-2 lead. Gavin Bennett hit an RBI single, bringing Lavender home, and a triple from Tyler Bennett brought home Gavin Bennett. Tyler Bennett then scored when McAdam singled on a fly ball to right field.
The Redcoats added two runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 9-2 lead before Lavender’s fifth-inning grand slam.
In the win, Lavender (4) and Swanson (3) combined for seven of the team’s 12 RBIs, with both Bennetts recording two RBIs each. Swanson had a team-high three hits and Lavender had a team-high three runs scored.
On the mound, Matteo Modifica got the win pitching six innings and allowing two hits, two runs, two walks, and recording three strikeouts.
With the win, Berlin improved to 11-4 on the season, winning its sixth-straight game.