In a grand start to the campaign, the Newtown High School baseball team plated seven runs in the first inning on the way to a 13-2 triumph at nonconference foe Foran of Milford on March 30.

Todd Petersen’s grand slam and two hits and two runs batted in each for Luke Melillo and Shane Demers, highlighted the offensive outburst.

Newtown surrendered only single runs in the first and fourth innings and padded its lead with a six-spot in the seventh.

Connor Haywood provided 5.1 innings of five-hit ball. He struck out five, walked five, and surrendered one earned run. Josh Taylor pitched 1.1 innings of hitless relief with one strikeout, and Thomas Tavar struck out a batter in a third of an inning.

Petersen drove in five runs and scored twice; Haywood had two hits and an RBI; Sammy Smith had a hit, RBI, and two runs scored; Harry Lucas delivered a double, drove in a run, walked three times, and scored twice; and Matt Bradbury and Taylor each had a hit and run scored.

“I’m very pleased the way we’ve been swinging the bats. They’ve been sticking to our offensive approach,” said Newtown Coach Ian Thoesen, adding that his team has been aggressive at the plate and going after good pitches to hit.

Newtown blanked visiting New Milford 5-0 on April 1. Taylor pitched a one-hitter, striking out eight batters and walking just one.

“Josh is a competitor. I’m very fortunate to coach kids like him in our program. He was hitting his spots and mixing it up,” Thoesen said.

Taylor helped his own cause with a hit and two runs batted in; Petersen had a double and triple among his three hits and drove in a run and scored twice; Lucas had a double, RBI, and run scored; Demers walked, drove in a run, and scored; and Smith and Haywood both had a hit and run scored.

Newtown battled back to tie visiting Fairfield Warde before their April 3 game was suspended by darkness. Check back for more coverage of this and other NHS baseball games.