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By Steve Bigham

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By Steve Bigham

WINDSOR – Cathy Byrne slashed a one-out triple in the top of the eighth inning, driving in Kate Bouteiller with the eventual winning run, lifting the Nighthawks to a thrilling 2-1 win over Windsor in the CIAC Class LL state tournament Tuesday.

The win put 18th-seeded Newtown into the second round Wednesday against second-seed Southington.

The Nighthawks (13-8 overall) held a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday when 15th-seeded Windsor (13-8) scored an unearned run to send the first round state game into extra innings. The host club actually had the winning run on third base in the seventh, but Byrne, who moments earlier committed a costly error, got the final out on a grounder back to the box.

Byrne, a senior, then followed that up with her game-winning triple, which soared over the head of the Windsor center fielder. Bouteiller, the team’s junior shortstop, keyed the inning when she ripped a base hit – her third of the day.

Senior second baseman Lauren McCusker also had three hits, including an opposite field triple over the right fielders head in the third inning. Bouteiller followed with an RBI single to give Newtown the early lead.

Senior outfielder Andrea Rustine registered two hits and freshman Brittany Hutchinson added one for the Nighthawks’ 10-hit attack.

“We hit the ball all over the yard. If we had lost the game it would have been a killer,” admitted Coach Paul LaFrancesca.

They almost did lose it. In the seventh, Windsor’s leadoff batter struck out, but reached first base on a passed ball. The next batter grounded into a fielder’s choice, leaving a runner on first base with one out. Then, after an infield single and a pop out to second, the next batter hit a slow roller that Byrne was forced to charge. Her hurried throw to first base was well off target, allowing the tying run to score and putting runners on second and third.

Senior catcher Heather Morgan threw out another would-be base stealer against Windsor, giving her 13 throw-outs for the season. Byrne recorded 13 strikeouts and did not give up a walk.

LaFrancesca said he felt good about his team’s chances against Southington, considered to be one of the state’s elite teams. Playing in arguably the toughest league in the state, Newtown has been hanging tough against elite teams all season.

“I feel like we have every chance in the world,” he said Tuesday. “The SWC champ had to throw a perfect game to beat us.”

Brookfield, which captured last week’s conference title, defeated Newtown, 1-0, in quarterfinal action May 23. On that day, Byrne and Bobcat hurler Pam Mazzarella engaged in a scoreless dual that was finally broken up in the bottom of the sixth inning when Mazzarella blasted an RBI triple to left centerfield.

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