By Kim J. Harmon

NEW FAIRFIELD – For a team that started 0-7, it was just about the perfect way to end the season.

With offense.

With pitching.

With a win.

The Newtown High School baseball team exploded for five runs in the top of the fourth inning last Thursday and used that to secure a 5-4 win over New Fairfield in the final game of the regular season.

The Nighthawks finished up 6-14 under first-year coach Carl Strait.

Down 1-0, the ‘Hawks finally reached Tyler Cullen (and then Andy Filmer) in the fourth inning. Ronnie Shimko belted a bases-loaded triple while Alex Dolan and Matt Myslewski drove in runs to fuel the offensive outburst.

On the mound, Dolan (2-2) combined with Ron Isler to fire a three-hitter. The Rebels scored once in the bottom of the fourth, once in the bottom of the fifth, and once in the bottom of the sixth to inch close to the ‘Hawks, but Isler (who came on in the sixth) shut the door with three strikeouts.

Dan Lundstedt and Matt Corrao had doubles to lead New Fairfield.

The win came a day after the ‘Hawks were dropped, 5-3, by Pomperaug. Shimko was the hitting star in that game, as well, driving in a couple of runs with a double. Tim LaPak, Pat McCarthy and Joe DeFeo also had doubles with DeFeo driving in the third Newtown run.

Pomperaug jumped out to a 3-0, first inning lead on Newtown starter Pete Meisel (1-4) and after Newtown scored two runs in the bottom of the second, the Panthers scored two more in the top of the third to take a 5-2 lead.

The ‘Hawks scored once in the bottom of the fourth.

Matt Myslewski came on in relief of Meisel in the sixth inning and fanned a pair of batters.

Senior All Stars

Ron Isler – the most potent offensive force for the Nighthawks with a .515 average, 10 doubles, a triple and 12 RBI – was picked to play in the Connecticut High School Coaches Association 30th annual All Star baseball game (District 1 versus District 2) on June 18 at Willowbrook Park in New Britain.

Besides his prowess at the plate, on the mound Isler was 2-5 with a 2.92 earned run average and 51 strikeouts in 452/3  innings of work.

Anyone looking to go to the game, see head coach Carl Strait for tickets.