By Steve Bigham

Just two games into the season, the Newtown High School softball team has already run the gamut of emotions – winning its first game in thrilling fashion and then following up with an agonizing loss three days later.

“I’ll be gray if this continues,” joked coach Paul LaFrancesca as he prepared for Wednesday’s game at Brookfield.

Newtown opened the season April 5 with a 1-0 non-conference win over Brookfield that sent the big crowd at Treadwell Park into a bit of a frenzy. Entrenched in a scoreless tie with the defending state champs, Newtown got hits from Kate Bouteiller and Kristin Caposella (not to mention a controversial bunt by Jodi Minalgo) in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.

On Monday, Newtown opened league play at Community Field in Southbury and after taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth, ended up losing 2-1. The locals appeared to be on the verge of their second win of the season as pitcher Caposella recorded the first two outs of the final inning. However, Pomperaug managed two straight hits, a walk and then a single by all-state catcher Erica Leonetti, which plated the tying run.

“If I had a base open I would have walked this kid,” the Newtown coach said.

 The winning run then came home after the umpires ruled that, following a collision at third, Newtown third baseman Lauren Blomberg had “obstructed” with the runner coming into third. LaFrancesca argued the call, saying the run would not have scored anyway, but the call stood, the player was awarded home and the game was over.

Newtown (1-1) had taken the lead in the top of the first after sophomore pinch hitter Nicole Mangarella ripped a line drive single, putting a big smile on her coach’s face.

“As a freshman, Nicole got a single off the same pitcher (Pomperaug’s Brittany Dielmans), so I called her to pinch hit for Amanda Marsilio and on the first pitch, Nicole rips a single,” LaFrancesca said. “I’ve got a good memory.”

Pinch runner Laura Howard then made it to third on a successful bunt by Jaime Lindquist and came home on Lauren Blomberg’s grounder to third.

The mood was much happier last week as Bouteiller, Minalgo and Caposella were mobbed by their teammates after upending the state’s fourth ranked team. For six innings, Newtown’s bats went hitless against all-state pitcher Pam Mazzarella. But in the seventh, Bouteiller broke the spell with a clean single to right center. Minalgo’s fine bunt was disputed because Brookfield coach Cindy Adamski argued that the bat had hit the ball after Minalgo had dropped it. She claimed that it should have been a “dead ball.” The umpires though otherwise and the game continued.

Caposella’s game-winning single put the finishing touches on a fine individual effort by the junior pitcher, who scattered two hits, struck out eight and walked none to secure her first career victory.

Last week’s game also saw the emergence of freshman second baseman Trina Ramsdell, who played flawless defense and displayed an aggressive bat. Jessica Omasta has also played well from her right field position.

“The defense is just as I expected. I knew we were going to be solid there, but I’m somewhat disappointed with the results at the plate,” LaFrancesca said.

In 15 innings so far, Newtown has just five hits and two runs, numbers that will undoubtedly improve as the season moves along.

Against Pomperaug, Caposella and Ramsdell each collected singles earlier in the game.

Pomperaug’s only real threat prior to the eighth inning took place in the seventh when it managed to get a runner to second with just one out. However, LaFrancesca called for a “fake throw” which worked perfectly as the runner was tagged off the bag.

“Caposella was backed up against a wall and pitched her way out of trouble and the defense remained solid,” LaFrancesca said. “We’re playing beautifully and executing well, but not getting enough base runners this year.”