By Kim J. Harmon

A glimmer of hope.

That’s what Greg Burkhart had given the Newtown High School baseball team last Wednesday when he fired six innings of one-hit ball in leading the Nighthawks to a desperately-needed 1-0 win over Brookfield.

The glimmer of hope, though, soon faded as the ‘Hawks dropped their next two games to fall to 1-5 on the season.

It could, however, be seen as a good news/bad news sort of thing. Sure, the pitching faltered as it allowed 26 runs on 26 hits in two games, but at least the bats started to come alive with 21 hits and 18 runs in those same two games.

So, at least there was that.

Last Wednesday, Burkhart – a senior tri-captain – gave the ‘Hawks the lift they needed with his one-hit performance. Burkhart is a crafty lefthander who throws a tantalizing slow curve and a good fastball and isn’t afraid to throw either in any situation or any count.

Although his first start of the year (an 8-2 loss to Pomperaug) wasn’t so hot, Burkhart was on fire against Brookfield. He was pitching no-hit ball into the sixth inning – whiffing seven batters along the way – before Lou D’Arcangelo reached him for a single.

Burkart did walk five batters on the afternoon, but he quickly squelched any chance Brookfield had to capitalize on them. Sophomore Ron Isler came on in the seventh and fanned two batters to pick up the save.

Senior catcher Matt McCarthy – one of those whose bat has been slow to respond this season – doubled in the only run of the game in the top of the first inning.

The pitching, though, wasn’t nearly as sharp on Saturday as starter Keith Neidig – who was so strong in his first start of the season, a 3-1 loss to St. Joseph’s of Trumbull – was knocked out of the box in the second inning enroute to a 13-7 loss to Bunnell.

The Bulldogs scored eight runs in the first two innings and by the end of four innings were in possession of a comfortable 10-2 lead. The ‘Hawks did rally late, scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth and two in the bottom of the seventh.

Collin Anderson belted a home run to spark the Newtown offense, which collected 11 hits on the afternoon.

But the defense stumbled a bit, committing four errors. And the ‘Hawks had no answers for Shannon James (two hits, two RBI, three runs scored) and Dave Carroll (two hits, four runs scored).

The offense stayed hot on Monday – except it wasn’t any hotter than the Masuk High School offense. The Panthers out-hit the Nighthawks, 13-11, and out-scored them, as well, 13-11. Jeff Hourigan collected four hits, belted a pair of home runs, and drove in six runs to power Masuk.

The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the ‘Hawks in the first inning off Burkhart, who had been so brilliant in his win over Brookfield. Though discouraged when he came off the mound, Burkhart’s teammates kept him in the game by scoring three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.

Kevin Carolan led off with a walk and then scored on a mammoth home run by Nick Savino to dead centerfield. Later, Dan Murphy’s infield grounder scored Matt McCarthy from third to knot the score at 3-3.

The ‘Hawks took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third when Murphy smashed a deep drive to centerfield (in nearly the same spot as Savino’s blast), scoring Isler from second. Murphy tried to stretch the hit into a triple, but a brilliant cut-off throw nailed him at third base.

Then the Panthers took the lead back in the top of the fourth, 6-4, on back-to-back home runs, but the Nighthawks tied it up, 6-6, on a two-run single by Isler in the bottom of the frame.

It was like that the rest of the game.

Two runs by Masuk in the top of the fifth and one by Newtown in the bottom of the fifth. Three runs by Masuk in the top of the sixth and four more by Newtown in the bottom of the sixth. And then, all tied at 11-11, Brian Cavanaugh of Masuk (who had four hits on the afternoon) drilled a two-run single in the top of the seventh to snap the deadlock and lift the Panthers to the win.

Burkhart, Chris Arnold and Isler all shared time on the hill, but it was Isler who was saddled with the loss.

Newtown – at 1-5 overall and 1-1 in the South-West Conference – was scheduled to host Stratford on Wednesday and will host Pomperaug on Friday.

The ‘Hawks lost the season-opener to Pomperaug, a non-league game.

Next week, the ‘Hawks will travel to New Fairfield on Monday and then host New Milford on Wednesday. A home-and-home series with Jonathan Law will follow on Friday and Monday, April 27 and 30.