The Newtown Hawks Blue 9U baseball team was among 15 from across the state that competed in district play with the chance to move on to the Cal Ripken State Tournament. Newtown’s district included New Canaan, Greenwich, Norwalk, and Bethel, and the top three teams from each district move on to states in a double elimination bracket. The team is led by coaches Chris Evans, Kevin Kuzma, T.J. Garvin, and Jordan Levy.

The Hawks defeated the Bethel Wildcats 12-2 in a five-inning mercy rule game to begin tournament action. Seven runs were scored in the first inning thanks to hits by Quinn Garvin, Auston Luczak, Christopher Evans, Hudson Levy, Mason Leonard, Christopher Fairbairn, Owen Leighton, and Jacob Christos. Luczak and Fairbairn managed multiple hits for the Hawks. Kolby Conklin got things started on the mound and lasted three and a third innings. Jackson Christos came in from the bullpen and finished the five-inning game strong. Defense was on fire with plays by Luczak, Fairbairn, Braxton Kuzma, Garvin, and catcher Evans who caught a player stealing home.

Newtown then beat Norwalk 9U travel 13-2 in a four-inning mercy-rule game. Pitchers Felipe Costa and Fairbairn didn’t allow a hit. Bats were on fire with hits by Hudson Levy, Gavin, Leonard, Kuzma, Conklin, and multiple hits by Luczak, Evans, Fairbairn, and Jacob Christos. Levy, Leonard, Conklin, and Costa all had plays resulting in outs.

Newtown faced New Canaan in the third game and couldn’t recover from an early deficit in a 12-4 loss. Conklin, Costa, Jackson Christos, and Luzcak all pitched in the game. Luczak, Evans, Garvin, Leighton, and Leonard all had hits.

In the fourth and final game, pitcher Luczak shut out Greenwich Thunder Blue in a 7-0 victory. He pitched all six innings, allowing one hit and no runs, while striking out three and walking one. Garvin hit a home run. Luczak, Evans, Leighton, Fairbairn, and Costa all had hits. Defense was strong with plays by Luczak, Garvin, Conklin, Kuzma, and Jackson Christos. With the win, the Hawks earned a second seed placement for their division in the Connecticut Cal Ripken Tournament, which gets started on July 1.