Nighthawks ‘Steal’ One Win, Slug Their Way To Two More Triumphs

By Andy Hutchison

REDDING — Newtown High School’s baseball team bounced back from its four-game losing skid to reel off victories in three consecutive games this past week. The Nighthawks toppled Oxford 12-1 on April 27; in effect stole a win at Joel Barlow High School by manufacturing all of its runs thanks, in large part, to nine stolen bases in a 5-1 win on April 29; and crushed Immaculate of Danbury 14-3 on May 2. Newtown improved to 7-5 overall and 3-4 in South-West Conference play.

Newtown pitcher Kyle Wilcox dominated the Oxford offense with seven strikeouts, and allowed only three hits. RJ Roman led the 12-hit attack with three knocks, Evan Noonan had two hits including a triple and two runs batted in, and Ryan Powers and Rich Sandler also had two hits apiece.

The Nighthawks compiled 15 hits in the win over Immaculate as the team continued its winning ways heading into Thursday’s clash with Pomperaug of Southbury (after The Bee went to press). The offense was led by Roman and Bryan Czel, both of whom had three- and two-run hits. Noonan had two doubles, and Ryan Tita contributed two hits and two runs batted in. Kyle Packer and Chris Tenney both doubled, and Wilcox had a two-RBI triple. Pitchers Chris Haylon and Brian Reed combined to allow only three runs on six hits.

Newtown played “small ball” to produce its runs in the win over Barlow. Czel had four of Newtown’s stolen bases, and had three hits and three RBI to lead the way. Roman went the distance on the mound, and had at least one strikeout in each of the first six innings en route to a two-hit, seven-strikeout performance. Roman got into a bases loaded jam in the seventh inning, but escaped when he induced a one-two-three — pitcher to catcher to first baseman — double play to end the game.

Roman said his fastball, curveball, and slider were all working well. “Each inning I felt better and better,” the pitcher said.

Noonan was hit by a pitch leading off the game, stole second and third base, then scored on a Powers sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. In the second inning, Czel singled and stole two bases, as well, before being knocked in on Sandler’s RBI ground out. The Nighthawks added a run in the fourth when Powers walked, stole a base and came around on Czel’s single. In the sixth, Tita walked and stole two bases to set the stage for another Czel run-producing single. Tita added an RBI groundout in the seventh.

Roman said his team’s ability to scratch out runs in five different innings and continue building a lead throughout the game made things easier for him. “That definitely helps make it easier to go out and pitch — and shut the other team down,” he said.

Czel and Newtown Coach Matt Memoli said the Nighthawks were able to take advantage of facing a lefty pitcher, whose back is to first base, and who had a slow delivery.

“Our base running did a nice job today,” said Memoli, adding that the team had plenty of men on base and was able to pick up pitcher Tom DeSimone’s move and got a good feel for when to steal. “That’s what we want to be able to do is get base runners and be as aggressive as possible — putting the pressure on the other team.”

The Nighthawks know not to get too high on their winning ways. They jumped out to a 3-0 start before losing five of six games.

“We’re going to hit rough spots but with the talent and preparation we put in we’re going to be able to come out on top,” Czel said.

“It’s especially important to learn from those losses that we had, and be able to come out and have a good, strong second half of the season,” Memoli added. “That’s what we’re going to need to do if we’re going to make any type of noise in the [SWC and state tournaments].”