Update From The High School Diamonds

Newtown High School’s baseball and softball teams are wrapping up their regular seasons this week as they prepare for the start of the playoffs. The baseball team, heading into its final South-West Conference game (against New Milford) needed a win to qualify for the SWC tournament. The game, originally scheduled for Wednesday, was moved to Thursday (after The Bee went to press) because of rain.

The softball team, meanwhile, entered into its final two regular-season games having already qualified for the conference tourney. Both teams have qualified for their state tournaments.

Newtown’s baseball team, in three road games this past week, doubled up Masuk of Monroe 10-5 on May 11, edged Immaculate of Danbury 9-8 on May 13, and fell by the same 9-8 score in a clash with Stratford on May 16.

In the win over Masuk, Kyle Wilcox threw 42/3 strong innings, allowing four runs on five hits. RJ Roman came in during the fifth inning, allowing only one run on one hit. Kyle packer had a huge day with three hits, two runs scored, and three stolen bases. Roman and Rich Sandler both had multiple-hit games

Against Immaculate, Roman and Bryan Czel both had triples. Czel drove in four runs and Roman added an RBI. Mike Davis, a freshman, continued his clutch play with a key pinch-hit two-run single in the fifth. David Lucia played a solid centerfield and contributed a hit and a run scored. Evan Noonan doubled and scored.

Newtown Coach Matt Memoli was disappointed in the result with Stratford as the Nighthawks were dealt their fourth one-run setback of the season. Brian Reed and John Hull both did a great job pitching in relief. Davis came up with another clutch hit, a two-run single, Czel had two hits, and Roman, Noonan, Packer, and David Lucia all added hits.

Newtown High’s softball team dropped its third straight decision before toppling Stratford 13-4 on May 16. The Nighthawks, coming off a loss to Bunnell last week, dropped a 4-2 decision to Masuk on May 11 and a 6-4 decision to Lauralton Hall of Milford on May 13.

In the loss to Masuk, Megan Gibbons delivered two doubles and a run batted in. Jess Gibbons singled and scored on one of her sister’s two-baggers for a 1-0 first-inning lead before the Panthers came back.

Monica Macchiarulo broke up a scoreless game with Lauralton by smacking a homerun down the right field line in the third inning, but the visiting Crusaders struck for a five-run inning in the fourth and held on for the win at Treadwell Park. Megan Gibbons had two hits and an RBI, and Colleen Cunningham and Nora Murphy also drove in runs.

Newtown got back to its winning ways with a 17-hit performance at Stratford. Morgan Macchiarulo was 3-for-3 with a double and triple, Megan Gibbons went 3-for-5 with a double, triple, and three RBI, Danielle Shine was 3-for-4 with a triple, Maddy Hauck belted a homer, Karlie Kuligowski drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single, and fellow freshman and twin Abi Kuligowski had her first varsity hit.

The softball team is scheduled to close out the regular season with back-to-back games: a rematch against Lauralton on Friday, May 20, a game with New Milford the next day (4 pm at Treadwell Park).

The SWC baseball tournament is scheduled to get underway on Monday, May 23, and the softball tourney will get going the next afternoon.