Excellent pitching, solid defense, aggressive base running and timely hitting enabled the Newtown Hawks U14 travel softball team to win two of its first three games in the 2004 summer season.

The Hawks opened with a 6-4 win over Stratford in which solid pitching from Stacy Broughton and Mariale Renna and flawless defense led the way. Katie Schmidt and Jen Blauvelt banged out two hits apiece and Rachel Nicolosi stole two bases and scored two runs. Schmidt also stole two bases and scored two runs while Jaclyn Van Waalwijk had a key single in the sixth inning. Melissa Fracker, Val Nezvesky, Aslee Ross, Nicole Alberico and Joanna Barry were solid defensively.

The Hawks then defeated the Fairfield Blaze, 4-0, in a rain-shortened game. Kelly Tenney led the offense with two hits as Nicolosi, Van Waalwijk, Nezvesky and Blauvelt all contributed singles. Barry drove in a run. Nezvesky, Barry and Nicolosi played flawless defense in securing the shutout.

With two wins already, the Hawks fell, 2-1, to an undefeated Watertown team. Broughton and Blauvelt pitched well, allowing just four hits. The Hawks banged out seven hits (two of those coming from Broughton), but could only muster one run on the final play of the game.

In the final inning, down by two runs the Hawks began a one-out rally, Tenney walked, Sarah Greenfield followed with a double into the right field gap, and with two outs and runners on second and third Nicole Alberico hit a solid shot to short stop. The throw to first was off line, which allowed Tenney to score from third base. Greenfield rolled around third and headed home with what would have been the tying run … but was tagged out at home in a very close play.

U10 Travel –

The Newtown Hawks U10 travel softball team split games against Bethel and Watertown this past weekend to run its record to 2-2. The Hawks slipped past Bethel (11-10) before falling to Watertown (17-2).

After spotting Bethel a 10-4 lead in the third inning, the Hawks slowly chipped away at the lead to eventually score the winning run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Britney Soucar scored on a fielder’s choice grounder by Jackie Kissack.

To start the comeback, the Hawks scored five times in the bottom of the third inning, triggered by Kissack’s two-run single. Taylor Johnson reached base three times on a single and two walks as Soucar reached base three times on walks and combined for four runs scored during the game.

Pitching the last four innings, Colleen Cunningham turned in a stellar performance by allowing only two runs on two hits and striking out seven Bethel batters.

On Saturday, the Hawks ran up against a dominating pitcher in Watertown. The Hawks were limited to just one hit (by Cunningham) and were fanned 11 times. When Newtown did mount a scoring threat, the Watertown defense played flawlessly.

In the field for Newtown, Natalie Dunn turned an unassisted double play, Johnson caught a fly ball and Rachel Camejo made two nice plays at second base.

In other action –

National Blue 13, National Red 8 –Caitlin Cosgrove and Ally Modzelewski were named team MVPs for the National Leahue All Star game.

For the Blue, Caitlin Cosgrove was 3-for-3 at the plate as she ripped a triple, double and a single. Rachel Ruiz smacked a pair of hits while Kaila Harrington, Alyssa Robinson, and Megan Sajovic collected singles. Stephanie Sanchez, Alyssa Robinson and Megan Sajovic pitched well for Blue.

For the Red, Kate Bowen was 2-for-2 as she roped a double and a single. Marley Koschel, Laura Newberry, Ashley Kuligowski, Monique Samuelson and Kaitlin Marsden collected singles for Red as Monique Samuelson, Ally Modzelewski and Kate Bowen pitched well.

Other members of the Blue team included Ann Marie Davis, Stephanie Suhoza, Erin Fish, Rachel Fossum, Makena Cunningham, Rachel Marcucilli. Not playing due to injury was Alyssa Robertson. Other members of the Red team included Tara Hiteshew, Jennifer Dailey, Nicole Elias, Christine Beck and Ashley Soucar.