Hawks Softball Team Finishes Second

The Newtown Hawks U12 softball team took a second place finish in the Southington Invitational Fastpitch Tournament on June 18 and 19.

On the first day the Hawks beat Stamford 5-3. Lauren Wilcox started the game for the Hawks and Emily Bell made her pitching debut for the team in the sixth inning and closed the game. Strong fielding plays were made by Samantha Strocchia and Caitlyn Linden. Kelly Merrick led the team with two runs batted in and Isabella Luciano also contributed an RBI.

The Hawks met defeat in the second game of the tourney, falling 9-3 to the host Southington 98s, but came back stronger than ever to beat Southbury Heat 12-2. Bell and Tegan Doherty shared pitching duties, Cassidy Keller made two outstanding catches in left field, and Caitlyn Linden held down the infield with numerous outstanding plays. The Hawk’s bats were busy at the plate. Haley Ryan contributed a single and a double, Linden had a single, double and three RBI, Katie Riley provided a double and RBI, Keller hit a double and drove in two, and Rylee Mulligan also put an RBI in the book.

The Hawks finished the first day of tournament play in second place and went on to beat Ridgefield  8-0 in their first game on the second day of the tournament. The Hawks earned themselves a place in the semifinal round, against the Hornets. The Hawks came ready to play and earned their spot in the championship game by beating the Hornets 4-3 in a nail-biting finish. Wilcox pitched the entire game and shortstop Caitlyn Linden and first baseman Kelly Merrick made great plays in the field to support their team.

Singles were the name of the game with Merrick, Linden, Ryan, Riley, and Shannon Lynch each earning a base hit. Linden scored the winning run and the Hawks went on to meet the host team, Southington 98s again, in the championship game.

The Hawks gave a solid performance and stood strong on both sides of the plate, but Southington took the win, 9-1, and the Hawks came home proudly with the runner-up trophy. The Hawks are sponsored by The Meat House, ACE Hardware, and Chuck Hull Landscaping.