Coming off a run to the South-West Conference championship as the No. 7 seed in the bracket, Newtown High School's baseball team will have to overcome the losses of seven graduates, including four starters, if they are to make another playoff run this spring. Optimism is high on the Nighthawk diamond.

"Our hopes are to be back in the SWC championship and make a long run in states," Coach Ian Thoesen said.

Last year's run to the top in the conference tourney goes to show that once you're in you can win.

"That's baseball. You can't predict baseball," said Thoesen, echoing the words often spoken by New York Yankees radio play-by-play voice John Sterling.

But you can project all you want, and the thing that carried the Nighthawks to the top of the conference a year ago - pitching, which held three opponents to a grand total of one run in Newtown's run to the title - seems to be a strong point for this year's squad both in terms of depth and high-level talent on the mound, led by Orlando Swift and Kyle Roche, both of whom have plans to throw in college next year.

"It all starts on the mound. Pitching and defense are going to win," Thoesen said.

The captains are catcher Ben Harrison, second baseman Harry Eppers, and Roche.

Key returnees, Thoesen said, include Swift, pitcher/outfielder Shea Talbot, and outfielders Jack Miller and Eugene Citrano. Newcomer Sammy Smith, a transfer who comes from North Carolina, provides an added spark in the outfield, Thoesen said.

"Our strengths are pitching and defense, and we can hit too. We're a pretty solid team," Thoesen said. "I'm very excited. The kids have been working hard all offseason."

Tough competition stands to come from Masuk of Monroe and Bethel, which Newtown defeated in last year's pinnacle game. "I think there is a lot of parity," Thoesen said.

The season gets started on Saturday, March 31, when FCIAC team Ridgefield comes to town for a 1 pm first pitch.