Guy Avolio’s year didn’t get off to the start he wanted.

 

The senior was injured in Bridgeport’s baseball season opener at Preston.

 

“It was very tough for me because I was really excited for this season,” Avolio said. “I worked hard all of the offseason to play, but then coming out and pulling my quad was devastating. 

 

“But I just went to physical therapy and did whatever I could to stay in shape with baseball. And then being able to come back and play was awesome.”

 

He came back with a bang, launching a grand slam against Wheeling Park in the McDonald’s Tournament that functioned as a walk-off because it brought the mercy rule into play.

 

“That was the best feeling ever. That was my second at-bat back,” Avolio said. “Coach (Robert) Shields let me get a chance to hit and I didn’t have to run around the bases, so that was awesome.”

 

Now he’ll cap his year in the state tournament.

 

Bridgeport finished off its regional series on Memorial Day and will have to wait 15 days to take the field in the Class AAA state quarterfinals on Tuesday at Jack Cook Field in Huntington.

 

“It’s a pretty long gap of not playing any games, I wish it was shorter,” Avolio said.

 

The good news is that Bridgeport has a deep roster, especially of pitchers, and a strong JV program to provide in-house competition in the interim period.

 

“We’ve got to play more intrasquad games and see more live pitching to get ready,” Avolio said. “It’s a lot different because the energy is just not there. You’re seeing your friends instead of other guys out there to play against. But it is good to see live pitching and we’ve got really good pitchers to face.”

 

Bridgeport played some games at Marshall earlier this year, but that was when Avolio was hurt.

 

Still, he came back in plenty of time to play against the best of the best as the Tribe prepared for this time of year.

 

“It helps a lot going to Virginia and then playing two games at Jefferson,” Avolio said. “I’ve been seeing a good bit of good pitching.”

 

Avolio is one of them, too.

 

“It’s nice because then we’ve got our guys out there for defense,” Avolio said. “We don’t have to worry about trying to figure out who can pitch or not because everybody can pitch pretty well.”

 

Bridgeport’s four seniors, Avolio, Kasen Baun, Blake Butcher and Owen Sondericker, have led the way, but a talented younger group has followed.

 

“They’ve done a lot,” Avolio said. “There’s a lot of potential there as they keep getting older and playing, but they’re already good. It’s nice to have them behind us and they’re all good teammates.”

 

“Hopefully, we can make it all the way and end with the state championship,” Avolio said. “I think we just need to do our jobs. Keep the energy up, obviously have good pitching, come out hot and make the routine plays.

 

“As long as we’re doing the right things out there, I think we’ll be fine.”