By Kim J. Harmon

Even though a four-game losing streak had eliminated them not only from the South-West Conference playoffs but also a CIAC state tournament berth, there was still plenty of fight left in the Nighthawks last week when they took the field against Masuk.

With their record sitting at 5-11, post-season play was out of the question, but the ‘Hawks played as if there was more than just pride on the line. Gregg Burkhart tossed a masterful three-hitter, walking just one batter and striking out seven as Newtown blanked Masuk, 8-0, for their sixth victory of the 2000 season.

Burkart allowed a first-inning, two-out double to Jeff Hourigan, a second-inning single to Jeff Quarank and a sixth-inning single to Chris Pannone. No more than one person ever reached base against him in one inning as he utterly befuddled the Masuk offense with his vast repertoire of breaking stuff and off-speed deliveries.

Burkhart improved to 2-2 on the season and also helped himself at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two singles and a run-scored.

It seemed, right there in the first inning, as if the ball would be bouncing Newtown’s way. Kevin Carolan reached first on a dropped third strike. He stole second then went to third on a wild pitch and home on another wild pitch.

Newtown went ahead 1-0 without the benefit of a hit.

The ‘Hawks extended their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the second after Nick Savino led off the frame with a single. He reached second on a wild pitch and stole third, scoring on a Collin Anderson sacrifice fly.

The knockout blow came in the fourth when Newtown put five runners across the plate. Pete Engel and Burkhart singled and Matt McCarthy stroked a two-run triple, but the ‘Hawks were aided well by two Masuk errors that enabled Ron Isler and Kevin Carolan not only to reach base, but to score as well.

Isler slashed a double to rightfield in the fifth to score Engel with Newtown’s final run.

It was a nice win for the ‘Hawks, but just a few days later they suffered a tough 14-3 loss to Foran in a game that was stopped by the 10-run mercy rule in the bottom of the fifth. The Nighthawks’ only runs came on a fourth-inning single by Anderson and a two-run, fifth-inning home run by McCarthy (his second of the season, also giving him 20 RBI for the year).

The ‘Hawks hosted Weston on Wednesday and Kolbe-Cathedral on Thursday to finish up the regular season.