Lightning Baseball Team Wins Two Of Three

The Newtown Lightning 19U baseball team won two of three games in a week highlighted by a pair of one-run clashes. The results are as follows:

Newtown Lightning 8 Pomperaug 7: Newtown battled back from a 6-5 deficit with two sixth-inning runs, and relief pitcher Will Arndt got the win after retiring all three Pomperaug batters in the seventh inning last Friday at Newtown Middle School Field. Newtown’s John Lebinski and Alex Saviano walked and scored on wild pitches to give their team a sixth-inning lead. In the seventh, Arndt made a terrific dive to his left to grab a smash up the middle and threw to first baseman Ben Stoller for the first out. Arndt then struck out the final two batters. Saviano delivered the biggest hit of the game, grounding a hard single up the middle to knock in Eric Sutton and Stoller, and give Newtown a 5-4 third-inning lead.

Farmington 7 Newtown Lightning 6: Newtown had the tying run at third base in the final inning but just missed pushing it across during a see-saw battle at Farmington Middle School Field on Saturday. Trailing 7-6 with two outs in the last inning, Ben Stoller walked and stole second and third. Alex Saviano grounded to deep third and was thrown out by a half step at first. Saviano pitched brilliantly, chalking up a complete game and yielding only two earned runs and two walks. He scattered seven hits and struck out six. Mike Lobosco led Newtown’s offense, crushing a triple to right center and a two-run, bases-loaded double to right center. Stoller and John Lebinski also knocked in runs. Defensive highlights: third baseman Ryan Daignault speared a sizzling line drive in the third inning; catcher Brandon Cooper nailed a runner with a big lead attempting to steal third in the same inning, and first baseman Stoller caught a high pop and threw a strike across the diamond to Daignault to double a runner off third.

Newtown Lightning 13 Mahopac, NY 7: Will Arndt led off the game with a triple to deep left center as Newtown scored five first-inning runs and never lost the lead at Newtown High School Field Sunday. The win boosted the Lightning’s overall record to 4-1. Newtown’s first six batters successfully reached base in the opening inning. With the bases loaded, Eric Sutton slammed a three-RBI double over the right fielder’s head to score Mike Lobosco, Ben Stoller and Alex Saviano. Newtown’s other big hit of the day also came with the bases loaded. Stoller rapped a two-RBI single over third base into left field to score Nick Heron and Arndt. Brandon Cooper made his season debut on the mound and got the win. He struck out five batters in two innings of pitching, yielding one run. Lobosco also struck out five batters in two innings and gave up two runs. Joey Maggio finished on the mound, striking out the final hitter with a wicked curveball to preserve the Newtown victory. Maggio earlier made an excellent catch, racing to the foul line in right field.