Wolf Pack Claws Back For Third Straight Title

The Newtown Wolf Pack 11A travel baseball team continued its successful season by becoming the 2012 11/70 champions of the prestigious Al Leonard Invitational tournament hosted by the Bethel Baseball Association. This is the third year in a row this team has won its division and it was by far the most difficult due to some early adversity. That which does not kill the Wolf Pack makes it stronger.  After losing its first game in the double-elimination tournament, the Wolf Pack battled back in the loser’s bracket and won six games in a row to earn the championship.

The victories included triumphs over the host Bethel Wildcats, arch-rival Southbury, district rival Oxford, and Cal Ripken regional champions the New Milford Thunder. These victories were result of a combination of great pitching and great hitting. In the victory against Southbury, Kyle Roche and Ben Terry combined for a three-hit shutout and Shane Demers (two runs batted in) and Aaron Kirby (clutch RBI double) produced the offense. David Kohler was spectacular at the plate with a multi-hit, two-run, two-RBI game against a potent New Milford team which saw its bats shut down again by strong pitching. Defensively, the Wolf Pack benefited from big play after big play by the defensive star and tournament MVP Cole Demirjian who, in the tournament, threw out a handful of runners attempting to steal and picked off two more in critical late inning situations.

The Wolf Pack faced a very strong Brookfield team in the first championship game. After falling behind 7-2 in the first inning, the Wolf Pack proceeded to claw its way back into the game by scoring one in the second, one in the third, and tying the game with three runs in the fourth. Brookfield was kept scoreless after the first inning thanks to Terry’s 3 2/3 innings of relief, Roche’s gritty 1 2/3 as closer with a sprained wrist, and Jamey Hobar’s game-saving catch in the outfield. The Wolf Pack finally pulled ahead in the seventh with a single by Robert DiSibio who advanced to third on an overthrow and was then batted in on a clutch sacrifice fly by Easton Ricks.

In the final championship game, the Wolf Pack almost saw the tables turned on them. Thanks to two RBI from Luke Kirby and one by Jack Miller, the Wolf Pack got off to an early lead and looked to be cruising behind strong pitching by DiSibio. Brookfield, however, was able to battle back and tie the game in the sixth inning. The game remained tied going into the bottom of the seventh inning when, with one out, DiSibio was able to work a walk and steal second base. Then, with two outs, Robert Murray hit a game-winning walk-off single to center field that scored DiSibio and sealed the victory.