Hawk Sluggers Walk Off With Win As They Head Toward Playoffs

By Andy Hutchison

Down by run in the bottom of the seventh inning, Newtown High School’s baseball team’s members had to be demoralized yet still like their chances in Monday night’s game against Masuk at Fairfield Hills.

After all, the Nighthawks were one out away from a win before blowing the lead. The Hawks have also proven they can hit this spring, and they showed that in the bottom of the seventh with a couple of timely knocks in a dramatic 6-5, walk-off win.

Andy Lapple ended this seesaw battle with a clutch game-winning single to left field after Bryan Czel delivered an also-clutch game-tying single. Newtown created its rally with one out. Evan Noonan was hit by a pitch and advanced to second when Kyle Kromberg beat out an infield hit. Czel then tied the game, setting the stage for Lapple’s heroics.

“It feels really good,” Lapple said. “Obviously there was pressure there, but you try not to think about that stuff.”

Czel and Lapple each drove in runs to give Newtown an early 2-0 lead. Masuk tied the game before Newtown stole a run. In the fourth, Colby Brown walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a sacrifice. With two outs he stole home, by combining his speed with Coach Matt Memoli’s heads up and gutsy decision.

“I was actually really surprised he was telling me to do it,” said Brown, adding that Memoli, who serves as the third base coach, told Brown to walk down the third base line with him and break for home as Masuk’s left-handed pitcher Gordon Soper went into his delivery with his back to third base.

“I feel like one of the most underrated plays is stealing home off a lefty that’s going out of the windup,” Memoli said. “Right when he takes that first step back he’s got to go all the way through his windup and throw it — or else it’s a balk.”

If it were a balk that, of course, would mean Brown would score anyway.

“I told him to walk to me and right when he took his first step, just sprint home and hope for the best,” said Memoli, adding jokingly that had the play backfired he probably wouldn’t be talking about it after the game.

That 3-2 lead was short-lived as Masuk fought back to again tie the score. Newtown went back in front thanks to more speed on the bases. In the bottom of the fifth, Noonan was hit by a pitch and raced all the way to third on a wild pickoff attempt. Czel dove him in with a sacrifice fly to center for a 4-3 NHS lead.

Masuk was down to its final out but staged a late comeback against Newtown starter Joe Fedack who, ultimately, got his sixth win of the campaign.

“I couldn’t be more proud of this team here. They battled so hard,” Memoli said.

“It’s great to come back and battle back and win,” Brown added.

Newtown improved to 13-5 overall (9-4 in the SWC) and Masuk fell to 12-6 (8-4). The Newtown coach said this win was encouraging for the team is it heads toward the postseason.

“Masuk’s one of the best teams in our conference and we played right with them and beat ’em so, hopefully, that shows these guys that we can come to play with the big dogs,” Memoli said.

“I feel like we’re one of the most dangerous teams in the league because at any moment anyone can hit the ball and make plays, and be a playmaker,” outfielder John Fracker added.

The Nighthawks, the defending SWC champions, had won three in a row heading into Wednesday’s scheduled clash with Immaculate of Danbury (after The Bee sports section went to press) and Thursday’s finale with Masuk in Monroe.

Newtown defeated Bunnell of Stratford 5-1 on May 13. Chris Haylon threw a complete game five-hitter, allowing only a walk and getting three strikeouts. Brandon Rosenberger led the way offensively with two hits, including a solo home run. Noonan also had two hits, an RBI and a run scored. Fedak had a double and scored two runs. George Zaruba, Ryan Tita, and Lapple also added hits.

On May 15, Newtown defeated New Fairfield 8-5. Czel had two hits including a double and three RBI, Rosenberger had two hits and a pair of runs batted in, Tita delivered a hit and an RBI, Brown had two hits, and Zaruba came through with a double.

Pitcher Kyle Wilcox came in during the fourth inning with no outs and the bases loaded. He was able to escape the jam, allowing no runs by getting a strikeout, pop out, and ground out.

The Nighthawks will start their SWC tourney title defense beginning with the quarterfinals on Monday, May 24. The semifinals will be held at Bethel High the next day, with the championship game slated for May 27 at Bethel (7 pm).